Join the BAC Team!
Head of Fundraising & Institutional Storytelling
Deadline: May 10, 2024
The Head of Fundraising and Institutional Storytelling is a dynamic and visionary individual, capable of enhancing BAC's narrative and securing the financial support essential for our mission. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of the arts, a commitment to social justice, and the ability to integrate these principles into BAC's fundraising and communication strategies. This position will supervise the Development Manager and Communications Manager and have the opportunity to shape the growth of the department in line with the organization’s new strategic vision and leadership.
Thrive Fest 2024 Photos
Photos by Fernando Rodriguez/Nobody Studio. ThriveFest 2024 was presented with BRIC Arts Media. Thrive Fest 2024 “Community Sound Bath & Cyphers” was made possible by the support of the Open Society Foundations. Additional event support was provided by New York University (NYU) and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
We had a great time learning, networking, and creating at Thrive Fest 2024, presented with BRIC Arts Media!
Check out recordings from the Community Sound Bath & Cyphers activation, produced by Mario Castro of Capture Acid. Event photos are also now available. We encourage you to share your pictures on social media with #BACthrivefest and #thrivefest2024. Be sure to follow and tag us (@bkartscouncil) and credit our amazing photographer, Fernando Rodriguez (@nobody_studio).
Tell us about your Thrive Fest experience! We are constantly looking for ways to improve our events and would love to hear about your experience. Click here to take a short survey.
BAC Grantee Events
DUMBO Open Studios 2024
April 13-14 | DUMBO
Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC), Art in DUMBO, and the DUMBO Improvement District are joining forces for this year's DUMBO Open Studios, happening April 13 & 14 from 1-6pm. Throughout the DUMBO neighborhood, 155 artists will open their studios to the public for one weekend only. The event kicks off on Friday, April 12 at 6pm with the Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program Opening Reception.
Be sure to check out this Digital Guide by BAC Grants Associate Emmy Weissman.
CreativeStudy Live Q&A: “How to Surpass Your Goal: Crowdfunding with Daniel Sharp of DSCS”
Creative Study is a 2022 BAC Grantee.
April 16 | 5 - 6pm | Virtual
Join Daniel Sharp of DSCS for a discussion on how to surpass your fundraising goal through crowdfunding. All creative workers need funding. Sometimes sales, day jobs, gigs, or grants fill that need. Other times it’s not enough or the strings attached to the funding source prove too difficult to bear. Which projects are best suited to crowdfund? Which artists are best suited to crowdfund? How do creators surpass those goals on Kickstarter? And is Kickstarter the only way?
During this Q&A, Daniel will answer questions about the best uses of crowdfunding platforms, best practices to get people engaged, and how to meet and exceed expectations. Daniel is an experienced consultant and former Kickstarter Arts employee who can answer questions about when to engage in crowdfunding and when to avoid it.
“The O-1 Visa & the Impact Elections Have on Immigration”
Center for Art Law is a 2022 BAC Grantee.
April 16 | 12-1pm | Virtual
This workshop is designed to provide an overview of the O-1 visa application process, including tips for what evidence to include and when to apply, as well as a discussion about how an election year and change in administration may affect the visa, including wait times and acceptance rates.
Join the Center for Art Law and Rakhel Milstein, an immigration attorney and founder of the Milstein Law Group, for a workshop discussing what you need to know about the O-1 visa and suggestions for submitting an application during and after an election year.
Screening: “Stoop Chat with Jimmy & Shanaya”
Stoop Stories is a 2023 BAC Grantee.
April 21 | 12pm | Kaufman Astoria Studios – Zukor Theater
Stoop Stories documentary, “Stoop Chat with Jimmy & Shanaya” will be screening at the Queens World Film Festival as part of their GOOD IN THE ‘HOOD bloc. This short follows the unlikely friendship of blind Brooklyn poet, “Harmonica Jimmy,” and his younger neighbor, Shanaya, as they forge an uplifting bond based on their love of poetry, music, and the things that make New York, New York.
Events, Workshops, & Professional Development
Nonprofit New York: “Intersectional Disability Equity and Inclusion”
April 16 | 11am-12pm | Virtual
In this training, we will go over what a disability is, how people are discriminated against in intersectional ways (race, class, gender, etc) while being disabled, how to be a better ally, how to support disabled staff and how to tackle interactions of discrimination. We will discuss the individual and system issues that focus on disability equity, inclusion and allyship. Key Takeaways: Learn how to better support disabled people; learn how to be a better ally; and discover the differences and similarities in different disabilities and how misunderstandings happen. This workshop will be presented by Eman Rimawi-Doster, Executive Director of Diversity Includes Disability.
IN Progress: Growing Your Creative Company
April 18 | 6-9pm | Brooklyn Navy Yard
Co-hosted by The Lay Out, this panel brings together several entrepreneurs in creative fields who have made the leap from independent designer, artist, and maker to being a successful business owner. Panelists will provide insights into what key factors helped and hindered the formation of their businesses, and share key lessons learned about transitioning from creator to creator/owner. This program is designed for established creators who are ready to turn their hands-on skills into businesses as well as entrepreneurs who have recently started businesses looking to connect with colleagues.
BAM Presents “Word. Sound. Power. 2024: SOUND—Rhythm is Rhythm”
BAM’s Word.Sound.Power 2023 featuring Eliyah McKayle, Dahlak Brathwaite and Spydey. Photo by Daniel J. Vasquez.
April 19 & 20 | 7:30pm | BAM Fisher
Prepare for an unparalleled fusion of beats, rhymes, and raw energy as BAM presents “Word. Sound. Power. 2024: SOUND—Rhythm is Rhythm,” featuring an impressive lineup of artists including Hetep BarBoy with Squala Orphan, Kumbaya, and JSWISS. With longtime director, co-curator, and host MC Baba Israel alongside DJ Reborn, this annual hip-hop and spoken word showcase promises an unforgettable experience at BAM Fisher on April 19th and 20th at 7:30pm. Curated with an eye on the pulsating dialogue between beats and rhymes, this edition draws inspiration from the rich legacy of The Last Poets and the vibrant tradition of the hip-hop cipher.
“Around the Way Gurl: The Block Party”
April 27 | 1-4pm | Hi-ARTS
with Artist in Residence Cheri L. Stokes
Engaging autoethnography and personal narrative to inspire movement and text, “Around the Way Gurl” explores the intersections of gender, intergenerational movement aesthetics, innate movement patterns, generational and community values, and Hip-Hop culture influence the artist's identity and the women from Bed-Stuy in the 1980s and 90s. As a means of research for the development of “Around the Way Gurl: The Block Party,” Cheri will lead audiences in a multigenerational community dance workshop. Participants can expect dance, music and fellowship in a casual but upbeat atmosphere. Take a trip down memory lane, wear your best styles from the decades, and come ready to move and have a good time. ALL generations and families are welcome. No dance experience needed.
BRIC Podcast Intensive: 2024 Cohort
Application Deadline: April 20
The BRIC Podcast Intensive will guide you through all of the stages of starting a podcast. In this class, a group of 12 Brooklynites will be selected to write, produce, record, and edit a podcast episode (singular or pilot) on a topic or subject of their choice. Students will produce their show, assist their classmates, and develop a cohort that can work together after the class ends. You’ll review storytelling techniques, podcast production practices, interviewing, choosing subjects and locations, recording techniques, studio practices, and editing on Adobe Audition. The intensive will culminate with a special public listening event which will also air on BRIC’s podcast channels.
Jane’s Walk NYC 2024
May 3-5 | 9am
Jane’s Walk was founded as a way to celebrate the life and legacy of urban activist, Jane Jacobs, who believed in the power of individuals to influence their city. It now takes place in over 200 cities worldwide, with Jane’s Walk NYC, presented by the Municipal Art Society of New York, as the largest of these festivals. What started as a handful of walks in 2011 has since grown into a weekend of collective neighborhood storytelling featuring hundreds of walks online and across all five boroughs.
Nonprofit New York: “Building Positive Organizational Culture: A Foundation of Success”
May 14 | 10-11am | Virtual
Why do some organizations thrive while others struggle? Have you ever heard the saying, "Team culture eats strategy for breakfast"? Indeed, a nurturing organizational culture significantly impacts success more than strategic planning. Without it, even the most impactful goals might remain unachieved. This session will provide an overview of the elements of adaptive organizational culture, tangible strategies to assess your current culture, and techniques to build one that best fits your organization and its people's needs. We will also explore strategies for cultivating an inclusive environment that supports mental health and overall well-being.
Company Rouge Presents "BORN TO BE"
May 18-23 | TRISK
"Born to Be" reimagines Simone de Beauvoir's exploration of womanhood through a vibrant contemporary ballet, merging movement, music, and art into a narrative that dissects gender constructs and amplifies the voices from the margins. This work is a homage to resilience and transformation, inviting a journey into the depths of identity and rights across eras. "Born to Be" stands as a contemporary ballet, a canvas where the fluidity and precision of dance meet the defiance of silence. Amidst a world where the essence of freedom is currently questioned, how does the body speak when words are restrained?
BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Benefit Concert: “Michael Brun Presents BAYO”
June 15 | 7pm | Lena Horne Bandshell
Michael Brun is a music producer and DJ from Haïti who makes music to bridge the world. A talented multi-instrumentalist, Brun shifted from a medical career path to music, embracing DJing and EDM production at 16. Gaining acclaim with tracks like “Rise,” “Burn Forever,” and “Synergy,” and collaborations such as “Rift” with Dirty South, Brun’s work has consistently charted in Beatport’s top ranks. Now with “It’s Better Management” and “William Morris Endeavour,” Michael continues to rise in the music scene.
This is a ticketed BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Benefit Show that supports BRIC’s free programming. BRIC’s free 2024 lineup will be announced soon.
Artist Opportunities
Velvetpark LGBTQ+ Visual Artists Residency 2024
Deadline: April 14
Running from July to December 2024, Velvetpark’s 4th Annual Visual Artist Residency will award one resident with a six month live/work studio in Brooklyn to begin or develop a piece of a complete body of work. Artists across the United States working in various mediums who are emerging, mid-career, or established are welcome to apply.
Meet Me There, Another Time Anthology
Deadline: April 15
Queer and trans people are invited to write a letter to a place you had to leave behind to preserve your own safety or parts of yourself. Brought to you by the same editor and publisher behind Lambda Literary Finalist, Written on the Body, Meet Me There, Another Time responds to the rise of fascist thinking and forced alienation of our community members while centering on our voices and healing process as we seek to belong where we can.
Jerome Hill Artist Fellowships
Deadline: April 15
Jerome Hill Artist Fellowships support early career Minnesota- and New York City-based generative artists who take creative risks in exploring, expanding, imagining, or re-imagining creative practices and experiences; reclaiming or reviving traditional forms in original ways; and/or questioning, challenging, or disrupting cultural norms. Jerome Foundation seeks to support artists who are creating, developing, and presenting imaginative work that is deeply considered, presented with technical skill, is compelling, and offers a distinctive vision and authentic voice.
Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grants
Deadline: April 16 | Up to $20,000
The Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grants (AWAW EAG) will support environmental art projects that inspire thought, action, and ethical engagement. Projects should not only point at problems, but aim to engage an environmental issue at some scale. Proposals should illustrate thorough consideration of a project’s ecological and social ethics. Projects that explore interdependence, relationships, and systems through Indigenous and ancestral practices are encouraged to apply.
LMCC Workspace Residency
Deadline: April 23
LMCC’s longest running residency program, Workspace, is a nine-month studio-based program that focuses on the creative process and cohort development of artists. Workspace nurtures experimentation, creative risk taking, collaboration, learning and skill sharing through regular opportunities for dialogue with peers and arts professionals. Participating artists are provided round-the-clock access to semi-private studio spaces and are expected to engage with the cohort for the full duration of the nine-month program.
Strokes of Genius Fellowship
Deadline: April 21
The Black Genius Foundation continues its mission to celebrate and invest in the genius of the Black Creative Ecosystem through Strokes of Genius, an open application program that provides artists, curators, journalists and scholars with funding to develop new creative projects. Strokes of Genius fulfills their commitment to invest in the creativity and cultural production of Black artists and arts professionals in addition to the creative health of our communities.
Waterfront Alliance: ART AT THE EDGE
Deadline: April 26
For the fourth year, Waterfront Alliance presents a free outdoor exhibit of New York and New Jersey artists whose work is thematically tied to climate change and will inspire, inform, and engage the public about the urgency of the climate crisis. The program is generously supported by The Howard Hughes Corporation and the South Street Seaport Museum.
Film Submission: Nou Akoma Nou Sinèrji Haitian Dominican Transnational Film Festival and Symposium
Early Deadline: April 26
Regular Deadline: June 28
Nou Akoma Nou Sinèrji Haitian Dominican Transnational Film Festival and Symposium aims to showcase art and films from emerging and accomplished industry professionals of the Haitian Dominican African Diaspora to authentically reflect our community’s diverse experiences and backgrounds. Its four-day programming Oct 2024, promotes cultural diversity through various art genres, including dramatic, documentary, experimental, short films, podcasts, and panel discussions.
Harpo foundation: Impact Award for Native American Art
Deadline: April 29 | $25,000
Harpo Foundation offers a $25,000 fellowship to amplify the contributions of under-recognized Native American contemporary visual artists. The Impact Award for Native American Art aims to futher the Foundation's mission to expand creative inquiry through inclusivity and equitable representation in visual arts.
Harpo foundation: Grants for Visual Artists
Deadline: April 29 | Up to $10,000
The Grants for Visual Artists award provides direct support to under-recognized artists 21 years or older. Awards are made up to $10,000. Grants are made to support the development of artists' work; a grantee may use their award to support any activity towards that purpose.
Jacki Apple Award in Performance and Artist Projects
Deadline: April 30 | $10,000
Franklin Furnace is honored to present the inaugural Jacki Apple Award in Performance and Artist Projects, celebrating the enduring impact of Jacki Apple on the New York art scene. This award will be an annual award given over the next ten years and reflects Jacki Apple’s commitment to championing artists, demonstrated through her multidisciplinary career as a writer, educator, radio host, and artist since the early 1980s.
Wolfsonian Creative Fellowship
Deadline: April 30
Wolfsonian fellowships engage scholars and artists around the world with resources held in the museum's trust and with the possibilities contained in dedicated study and interpretation of the modern age. Working full-time at The Wolfsonian over the course of their residency, fellows seek deeper understanding about the past (in research fellowships) or imagine novel ways to activate historic ideas and imagery (in creative fellowships).
“The Right to Have Rights” Open Call for Artwork & Proposals
Deadline: May 12
Dominicans Love Haitians Movement is proud to present its second annual Nou Akoma Nou Sinèrji Haitian Dominican Transnational Symposium theme: “The Right to Have Rights.” Inspired by the essay collection The Right to Have Rights and the theory of political theorist Hannah Arendt. We invite artists, performers, panels, and podcasts to submit artwork and proposals related to the the underpinnings of rights and their divestment: belonging, disallowance, invisibility, dignity, exclusion, uprootedness, vulnerability that center Haitian and/or Dominican voices and stories.
the Hopper Prize
Deadline: May 14 | $3,500 & $1,000
The Hopper Prize was established to provide grants, visibility, and career enhancing validation to artists who demonstrate a serious commitment to their work. The Hopper Prize provides unrestricted cash grants in the amount of $3,500 and $1,000 to artists around the globe. The Hopper Prize views the field of visual art in its broadest and most inclusive sense and therefore make awards available to artists working in any media.
B.J. Bespoke Gallery pAPERWORKS 2024
Deadline: June 5
Paperworks 2024 is an online competition with a two-month long exhibition on their website for finalists, small cash prizes for winners and an online reception. Juror Julian Sanchez Gonzales is a Research Fellow at the Museum of Modern Art. B.J. Bespoke Gallery will promote the virtual show and display the finalists work on the gallery website and social media platforms. The virtual show dates will be July 1 through August 31, 2024. Cash prize for First Place is $300, $200 for Second Place and $100 for Third Place. A Zoom Reception and Awards Presentation will be held on Thursday, July 11, for artists, their guests and the public, at which time the award winners will be announced.
KUNSTRAUM 2024-2025 Artist-in-Residence
Deadline: June 15
KUNSTRAUM is a community of artists by artists with the goal of redefining the collaboration between artists and curators. Through this program, KUNSTRAUM aims to explore the relationships between artists and curators by opening our gallery spaces to those interested in exploring unconventional, engaging ideas and taking risks. KUNSTRAUM’s Artist-in-Residency program offers three-month residencies for national and international artists on a quarterly cycle.
ArtsBergen Public Art Roster Call for Artists
Deadline: June 30
Northern NJ Community Foundation ArtsBergen is one of the largest producers of public art in Bergen County, NJ, and is seeking to grow its roster of artists who create public art that is relevant to community and accessible to the public. This is an opportunity for artists to be included in a pool for potential paid work opportunities. ArtsBergen is looking to learn more about artists in the area available and interested in creating public art. We will compile this list of talent into a roster of artists we can call upon to help us develop and implement projects. The roster will also become the main tool for choosing artists for public art projects, as well as a resource to match municipal interest and artist disciplines, styles, and foci.
Resources
New York City Council Participatory Budgeting
Vote Week is here! Until Sunday, April 14, residents across New York City can cast their ballot and vote for the locally developed projects that will improve their community. Participatory Budgeting (PB) focuses on improving neighborhood schools, parks, libraries, and other public spaces. Help shape the future of your community by casting your vote today.
Taking Action with State of NYC Dance 2023
Delving beyond insights into the current state of the sector, the State of NYC Dance 2023 Report details actions we must take in order to achieve a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for dance in NYC. To empower your journey towards meaningful change, Dance/NYC has created an online database on the DWR Hub that allows you to navigate through these actions and filter by your role as a stakeholder, strategies and impact areas. Explore, engage, and embark on your part in shaping the future we envision for NYC dance.
What We're Reading
“How to File Your Taxes for Free in New York City”
by Divya Murthy & Rachel Holliday Smith | The City
“NYC Is Looking for Artists to Honor Four Influential Women”
by Maya Pontone | Hyperallergic
“Artists on TikTok Are Worried a Ban Could Set Back Their Careers”
by Adam Schrader | Artnet
“Finding an Affordable Place to Live: A Conversation with Entertainment Community Fund Housing Specialist Randy Peralta”
by Ya Yun Teng & Barbie Kim | NYFA Blog
“How Zines Brought Power to Those on the Margins of Culture”
by Teresa Nowakowski | Smithsonian Magazine
Cover Image: Mark Zlotsky and Karyn Lao of Mookntaka in front of “Hedgehog” at Old Stone House. Mookntaka is a 2023 Brooklyn Arts Fund Grantee. Photo by Anna Robertson, 2023.
Empowering Artists. Empowering Communities.
The arts are a lifeline to sustain wonder, inspiration, healing, and a sense of community in our lives. Please join Brooklyn Arts Council in our mission to empower Brooklyn artists and arts organizations that bring life and joy into our home borough.