ALBANY — Metroland will be the new steward of First Friday, the monthly celebration of arts and culture across the city.
When local musician and comedian Erin Harkes revived the arts and culture publication last fall, she set it up as a nonprofit. This allows Metroland to apply for grants that can support this next era of First Friday, she said, and the series will be seeking sponsors as well. The driving force behind seeking funding is to ensure all participating artists can be paid.
“Exposure is not payment,” Harkes said. “I have not ever been able to pay for a single meal or a rent check with (exposure). If we’re going to use art and music to draw crowds, we need to pay them for their time and for their talents.”…