Brooklyn Arts Council is thrilled to announce our 2023 grantees and SU-CASA awardees. A total of $1,657,000 will be allocated to 280 Brooklyn-based artists and cultural organizations.
Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC) is thrilled to announce our 2023 Community Arts Grants, Creative Equations Fund, and new Brooklyn Empower Fund recipients as well as SU-CASA awardees. A total of $1,657,000 will be allocated to 280 Brooklyn-based artists and cultural organizations. We thank the 66 grants and SU-CASA panelists for joining us in reviewing applications and participating in the selection processes for these funds.
Supported by our partners at the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), BAC’s Community Arts Grants program consists of three funding streams: Brooklyn Arts Fund, Local Arts Support, and the Charlene Victor and Ella J. Weiss Cultural Entrepreneur Fund. This year, $852,000 will be distributed to 194 artists through Community Arts Grants.
Driven by values of justice, equity, and sustainability, and with visionary support from the Howard Gilman Foundation and the Mertz Gilmore Foundation, the Creative Equations Fund is BAC’s initiative dedicated to arts for social justice. This program supports community-engaged artists, arts organizations, cultural entrepreneurs, and researchers who have dedicated their creativity to solving social problems. There are two categories, including: Justice, Equity, & Sustainability + Performing Arts and Cultural Heritage & Diversity + Dance. This year, BAC’s Creative Equations Fund will provide $290,000 in support to 29 grantees for their work in 2023.
In 2022, BAC launched the Brooklyn Empower Fund, a new initiative that invests in the health and well-being of artists by pooling individual donor funds to distribute unrestricted grants. BAC believes artists should not be forced to choose between enriching our communities and making ends meet, especially at a time when the cost of living in New York has spiked drastically. Through the Brooklyn Empower Fund, grantees can use award money on anything they need; be it rent, groceries, rehearsal space, healthcare, or childcare. In its flagship year, BAC is proud to announce total allocation of $1,500 each to 10 Brooklyn-based artists and organizations for a total of $15,000.
BAC’s Brooklyn-wide SU-CASA Creative Aging program, funded by the New York City Council and administered by the DCLA and the NYC Department for the Aging, provides opportunities for seniors to actively express themselves creatively, socialize with a culturally engaged collective of senior citizens, participate in cultural performances, and learn techniques in a variety of arts disciplines. This year, BAC is awarding just over $500,000 through our SU-CASA program, which will be awarded to 47 artists for SU-CASA programming at 48 older adult centers throughout Brooklyn. A city-wide initiative, SU-CASA is the largest Creative Aging program in the country. For each SU-CASA site, artists receive a generous stipend as well as funding to cover costs for materials. Partnering senior centers will also receive a subsidy to support their participation. This year’s residencies feature talented and dedicated artists reflecting a broad spectrum of styles and cultural backgrounds.
Rasu Jilani, Executive Director of Brooklyn Arts Council shared, “Brooklyn Arts Council is delighted to announce its continued support of an exceptional group of artists and organizations for the coming year. By funding Brooklyn-based artists, we not only invest in their individual talents but also in the collective creativity of our community. We are committed to seeding and nurturing artistic growth and vibrancy in Brooklyn neighborhoods, shaping a future where the arts are integral to our shared humanity. Together, we ignite meaningful conversations, drive innovation, and inspire positive change. On behalf of the entire team at BAC, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to this year's esteemed grantees and eagerly await the realization of their artistic vision.”
Mara Manus, Executive Director of the New York State Council on the Arts said, “On behalf of Governor Hochul and NYSCA, our heartiest congratulations to the recipients of Brooklyn Arts Council’s Community Arts Grants. Their innovative projects will provide the measurable benefits of the arts to their communities, further develop careers in the arts, and engage residents and visitors alike in creative placemaking. We look forward to all that will take flight here.”
Leah Krauss, Senior Program Officer for Dance & Special Projects at the Mertz Gilmore Foundation commented, “Mertz Gilmore Foundation is delighted to partner again with BAC and with Brooklyn’s community-engaged dance artists dedicated to uplifting and safeguarding their cultural traditions. The expressive power of their vibrant dances transcends barriers - bringing people together, inspiring curiosity, and acknowledging the variety that makes NYC a great place to live and create.”
Kristal Pacific, Program Officer at the Howard Gilman Foundation expressed, “The Howard Gilman Foundation is incredibly proud to continue our partnership with BAC by contributing to the Creative Equations Fund. This program exemplifies the importance of investing at the grassroots – it continues to spark the imagination of community changemakers. We are glad that valuable resources are getting to Brooklyn artists and cultural workers that are committed to advancing social justice.”
"Brooklyn is home to one of the most vibrant creative communities in the world, and we are proud to partner with Brooklyn Arts Council to invest in the artists and collectives who are at the heart of this artistic vitality," said NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. "Whether partnering artists with seniors or bringing cultural programming to public spaces across Brooklyn, the extraordinary diversity and range of projects receiving support this year attest to the thriving creative communities that make our city such a remarkable place."
Adam Odsess-Rubin, Founding Artistic Director of National Queer Theater and 2023 Creative Equations Fund grantee voiced, "National Queer Theater is at an important moment in our growth as we fight back against the onslaught of anti-LGBTQ bills being passed across the country censoring our youth and art. This gift will go a long way in order for us to impact change through our productions and free education programs. Thinking about justice, equity, and sustainability, our artists and students are leading the way to a brighter and more fabulous future for all of us. We're thrilled to continue partnering with BAC, you have been an amazing support!”
Wenting Zhang, Founder & Director of Tea Arts & Culture and 2023 Brooklyn Arts Fund grantee, remarked, "With funding support, we have built a strong foundation that enables us to plan and execute our creative endeavors. It allows us to prioritize our community work and sustain ourselves as a collective over the years. Witnessing the joy and positive feedback from individuals of all backgrounds during our events reinforces our belief that we are moving in the right direction toward fostering deeper connections. We are grateful for your unwavering support and feel very fortunate to pursue the work we love.”
Brooklyn Arts Fund (BAF) is supported by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA); the New York City Council, and the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President.
Brooklyn Empower Fund (BEF) is made possible by the generosity of individual donors.
The Charlene Victor & Ella J. Weiss Cultural Entrepreneur Fund is supported by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA); the New York City Council, and the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President.
Creative Equations Fund (CEF) is supported by the Howard Gilman Foundation and the Mertz Gilmore Foundation.
Local Arts Support (LAS) is supported by the Statewide Community Regrants (SCR) Program of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
SU-CASA Creative Aging is funded by the New York City Council and administered by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) and the NYC Department for the Aging.
Image: THE COMPLAINT SOCIETY by Barnett Cohen. Featuring Briana Archer, Deja Bowen, Lena Engelstein, and Rachel Rivera at The Exponential Festival, Brooklyn Arts Fund grantee. Photo by Walter Wlodarczyk, 2023.