After the 2023 Governor's Arts & Humanities Award ceremony, we sat down with a number of the recipients to find out what inspires their work. Each of these artists embody the mission of Amplify Alaska, using their art and passion for culture to support and uplift their communities. The conversation centered on the power of gathering, and how community and communication empowers people. We talked about how cultural education encourages cross-cultural and interpersonal connection, rather than separation, which in turn leads to positive forward change.

Learn more about the recipients and their work at www.akgovawards.org/awards.

Our guests from left to right:

• Yngvil Vatn Guttu, Host of Amplify Alaska
• Pedro Garcia Quintana and Jenny Moore - Hope Studios: Arts Business Leadership Award
• Heather Lende: 2021-2023 Alaska State Writer Laureate
• Edward K. Thomas (President Emeritus CCTHITA): Distinguished Service to the Humanities in Community Award
• Ayaprun Loddie Jones (Elder, Teacher, Lower Kuskokwim School District): Distinguished Service to the Humanities in Education Award
• Marjorie Kunaq Tahbone (Inupiaq/Kiowa culture bearer): Margaret Nick Cooke Award for Alaska Native Arts and Languages
• John Damberg (Founder, CEO Alaska Jazz Workshop): Individual Artist Award

This episode of Amplify Alaska was recorded in The Crystal Saloon, Juneau's new and unique music venue and bar. Taylor Vidic, the Stage and Marketing Manager for The Crystal Saloon, explains how the physical space works to support music and musicians in its community, and tells the story of how she grew and developed her producing skills to land in her current role.

She also shares her plans for the Rasmuson Grant for music composition she received last year: recording her first full-length album of original songs inspired by Southeast Alaska. Taylor's album is in the works and will be coming out later in 2023. You can keep in touch with Taylor by visiting her website, taylorvidic.com.

Amplify Alaska returns to The Crystal Saloon on May 20th for an in-person and livestreamed fundraiser supporting Áak'w Rock Indigenous Music Festival. Taylor, who is also the Production Manager for Áak’w Rock, will be there. She and other artists from this season of Amplify Alaska will perform from 5-9pm. Don’t miss it!

AMPLIFY ALASKA GOES TO JUNEAU - May 20 @ The Crystal Saloon and live-streamed online!⁠ All proceeds from this mini-music festival will go to Áak'w Rock, the States' only Indigenous music festival. Many of the artists featured on this season of Amplify Alaska will be there, performing live! Don't miss out! Learn more about Áak'w Rock on their website: ⁠https://aakwrockfest.com/⁠ TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW! - ⁠https://givebutter.com/aakwrock⁠ To learn more about Amplify Alaska, head on over to amplifyalaska.org, or find us on Instagram and Facebook! Huge thanks to our sponsors who make what we do possible: GCI, the Atwood Foundation, Northern Culture Exchange and Frostline Studios.

In this episode, Annie introduces us to her debut album, Sisters of White Chapel, a collection of songs based on the narratives of women who came north during the Klondike Gold Rush, which morphed into a play of the same name. She and Yngvil discuss using history as an inspiration and a source for work that touches on modern social issues—like the #MeToo Movement—and how using history as an inspiration continues dialogues about topics such as sex work, labor, and resource extraction.

The album, Sisters of White Chapel, comes out on June 16th. In the meantime, you stay up to date about the project, and get a sneak peak of a couple of the songs by visiting www.klondikegoldrushsongs.com.