Church of the Friendly Ghost aka COTFG is a volunteer-run arts
organization
An organization or organisation (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English; American and British English spelling differences#-ise, -ize (-isation, -ization), see spelling differences), is an legal entity, entity—such as ...
supporting creative expression and counter-culture community. COTFG activities may include experiments in sound composition, custom made electronics, improvisation, cross-genre collaborations, site-specific performances, and future-minded creative music.
Conception
Church of the Friendly Ghost, currently known as COTFG was originally established in the fall of 2003 when a group of friends began hosting performances and other artistic activities in a small former church building at 209 Pedernales Street in
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, as well as the seat and largest city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it is the 11th-most-populous city ...
.
Over the years, the organization has presented over one thousand events. In 2007, COTFG became a sponsored project o
Salvage Vanguard Theater a tax-exempt, non-profit organization. Also in 2007, the organization re-located to a performance space on Manor Rd. In June 2016, COTFG held their final performance in the Salvage Vanguard Theater building and has since then continued to create numerous site-specific performances around the city of Austin.
New Media Art & Sound Summit aka NMASS
In 2009, COTFG created a festival, originally called the Modern Aural Sculpture Symposium South, to provide opportunities to explore music through workshops, lectures on compositional techniques, improvisation demonstrations, interviews with musicians, art installations, experimental musics, and performances of local artists at both the festival location and throughout the city of Austin. In 2010, COTFG expanded the festival into a three-day event and renamed it the New Media Art and Sound Summit, or the "NMASS Fest." The yearly festival emphasizes collaboration and creation with the intention of attracting attention to Austin's creative community.
NMASS Fest and the COTFG series of
performances are made possible by community patrons, and through their partnership with Salvage Vanguard Theater COTFG is also funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division.
Recognition
* City of Austin Cultural Arts Division Cultural Contact (since 2008)
* Met Life Arts
* Austin Chronicle - "Best Of"
References
{{Reflist
External links
WebsiteFestival WebsiteSocial MediaSocial MediaSocial Media
Sources
Article about New Media Art and Sound Summit in Austin Culture MapAustinist article 2012Austinist article 2010Austin Chronicle Article: Sounds of the City 2009Austin Chronicle Article: Culture Club 2009Austin Chronicle Best of 2009Interview with Aaron Mace 2008Austin Chronicle Article: Spectres 2008Austin Chronicle Article: TCB August 2005Austin Chronicle Article: TCB May 2005
Organizations based in Austin, Texas