Afronaut's Discusses Harlem Stage’s Sun Ra and Afrofuturism Series

Harlem Stage, the legendary uptown venue that for over 35 years has promoted the creative legacy of Harlem and artists of color from around the corner and across the globe, will present its new yearlong Afrofuturism series “The Cosmic Synthesis of Sun Ra and Afrofuturism” with guest Artistic Director, Nona Hendryx. Commissioned and presenting through Harlem Stage’s signature commissioning program, WaterWorks, the series is a celebration of the spiritual, sonic and social impact of Sun Ra and his work.

The series will present performances that interweave music, technology, conversations, literature, and dance that will celebrate the legacy of visionary pioneer of Afrofuturism, Sun Ra, the countless artists he has inspired, and how Afrofuturism continues to push the boundaries of our artistic imagination. 

Patricia Cruz began her term as Executive Director of Harlem Stage/Aaron Davis Hall, Inc.  in 1998. Prior to joining ADH, from 1989 to 1998, Ms. Cruz held the position of Deputy Director for Programs for The Studio Museum in Harlem. Ms. Cruz has over forty years of experience in arts management.  For six years she was a program director for the Chicago Council on Fine Arts.

Currently, Ms. Cruz serves as a member of the Cal Arts Board of Overseers, and on the Brendan Gill jury of the Municipal Arts Society. Most recently she was a member of the Tony Nominating Committee. Ms. Cruz also served and as a member of the Executive Committee of Board of the Urban Assembly. She has served on the Board of The Andy Warhol Foundation and is also past president of The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), an organization that supports and nurtures the work of artists and arts organizations throughout the state and ArtTable, a national organization of women in the Arts.