Written by BAC Staff
Brooklyn’s arts scene owes its vibrancy and resilience to the women who relentlessly fought to shape it. Charlene Victor, founder of Brooklyn Arts Council, believed artists needed more than recognition—they needed real, tangible support. In 1982, she made her case to Congress, emphasizing that without investment in artists, there is no future for the arts. Decades later, Ella J. Weiss carried that mission forward, expanding opportunities and strengthening the Council’s impact.
Their work wasn’t just about funding; it was about ensuring women artists and arts administrators had the resources, connections, and confidence to sustain creative careers. That’s why BAC created the Charlene Victor & Ella J. Weiss Cultural Entrepreneur Fund, an annual grant that helps women artists bridge the gap between creative passion and financial sustainability. This year’s grantees, Sasha Santer Hill and María-Elena Pombo, are the next generation of women shaping Brooklyn’s cultural landscape.
Sasha Santer Hill
Sasha Santer Hill is a ceramic artist whose work blends storytelling and craftsmanship. With support from the Fund, Sasha is expanding her practice through the Cohorts.Art mentorship program with renowned ceramicist Lisa Orr. This opportunity allows her to refine her design and technical skills while collaborating with a small cohort of artists. Known for her beautifully illustrated ceramic vessels, Sasha’s work merges real and imagined scenes, evoking emotion and narrative.
The Fund supports Sasha in deepening her craft, unlocking key resources like studio space and materials, and fostering dynamic collaborations.
María-Elena Pombo
María-Elena Pombo is a self-taught textile artist with over 10 years of experience in public art, workshops, and participatory projects, impacting over 1,000 people worldwide. Based in Brooklyn, her work centers on natural dyes and weaving, approached through a decolonial lens. María-Elena explores territory and culture by highlighting Earth-matter with historical and contemporary significance, inviting reflection on Latin American identity. As a member of Venezuela’s diaspora, she creates art that is rooted in her heritage while encouraging meaningful exchanges, ensuring cultural depth is never compromised.
With the Fund’s support, María-Elena brought K´itha Tarwi? to life, a striking public art installation inspired by a 6,000-year-old indigo-dyed textile from Peru, to life. In collaboration with F&T Auto Repair in Bushwick, she transformed the shop’s exterior with indigo-dyed fabrics from El Salvador.
The 2024 Charlene Victor & Ella J. Weiss Cultural Entrepreneur Fund Grantees embody a movement of women reshaping creative spaces. Through their work, they honor those who paved the way before them and continue to pave the way for future generations of women artists.
Cover Image: María-Elena Pombo, The Charlene Victor & Ella J. Weiss Cultural Entrepreneur 2024 Grantee. 'Entrelazado en la Fábrica de Concreto', 2020, Public Art Installation (Deadstock textiles dyed with avocado seeds)
Image 1: Sasha Santer Hill, 2024 Charlene Victor & Ella J. Weiss Cultural Entrepreneur Fund Grantee. Photo: Justine Cooper.
Image 2: María-Elena Pombo, 2024 Charlene Victor & Ella J. Weiss Cultural Entrepreneur Fund Grantee. 'Entrelazados 3d Et Al.', 2021, Installation (Deadstock textiles dyed with avocado seeds).