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Happening Now | Ongoing | Community Corner | Featured Grantees

APRIL 11TH, 18TH, 25TH - AI AND THE ARTS

ARTIST SUSTAINABILITY WORKSHOP SERIES (ASWS)

AI and the Arts immerses participants in the dynamic intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and artistic expression, illuminating how AI is revolutionizing the creation and comprehension of art. BCA endeavors to equip artists with a deeper comprehension of AI's emerging influence on the arts, providing expert guidance and fostering engaging conversations to ignite curiosity.

This three-part virtual Artist Sustainability Workshop Series (ASWS) will take place on Thursdays, between April 11th and April 25th from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM via Zoom.

Workshop Schedule:

Session I: Intro to AI

Thu., April 11th from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Session II: Legal Concerns and Copyright Issues in AI-Generated Artwork

Thu., April 18th from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Session III: Engaging with an AI-Driven Artist

Thu., April 25th from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

APRIL 13TH, 19TH, MAY 18TH, JUNE 1ST - BX EXPRESSIONS

BCA'S FREE SPRING PERFORMANCE SERIES

Featured: MAZarte Dance Company. Photo Credit: Ed Álvarez

MAZarte Dance Company

Sat., April 13th, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Williamsbridge Oval

Rain Date: April 14th, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

MAZarte Dance Company enchants audiences through vibrant traditional dance that brings Mexican folklore to life. Under the leadership of NYC’s distinguished choreographer and folklorist, Martha Zárate-Álvarez, MAZarte honors the cultural vastness of Mexico as they embody the fusion of old and new.

BX Creatives Connect

Fri., April 19th, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Bronx Brewery

Rain Date: May 2nd, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

BX Creatives Connect invites Bronx artists to the Bronx Brewery for an evening packed with dance, poetry, and music performances. Attendees will enjoy an unforgettable showcase of talent and creativity while networking with fellow artists.

Kinto Zonó

Sat., May 18th, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Oscar Comras Memorial Mall

Rain Date: May 19th, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Experience an electrifying performance by Kinto Zonó, an 11-piece Plena ensemble that seeks to keep the musical traditions of Puerto Rico alive and fresh with a New York attitude.

Kamate Traders Dance Company

Sat., June 1st, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

St. James Park

Rain Date: June 2nd, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Performing in elaborate masks to the explosive percussion of brilliant drummers, Kamate Traders Dance Company brings to life the ancient stories and legends of Africa’s Ivory Coast. Kamate Traders is under the artistic direction of Yahaya Kamate, a Bronx Arts Ensemble artist.

APRIL 16TH, 24TH, MAY 2ND - YOUTH ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM

LONGWOOD ART GALLERY @ HOSTOS

Featured: Photo of a malagua made from upcycled materials.

Quipus and Malaguas

Tue., April 16th, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Ages 12-24

In this in-person workshop led by Niceli Portugal, participants will create two assembled sculptures reusing materials from daily life including a quipu for recording memories through knots and a jellyfish lamp/chandelier called malagua, symbolizing water pollution's impact on ecosystems and prompting reflections on climate change's effects on our relationship with water.

Musical Manga

Wed., April 24th, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Ages 13-18

Craft manga characters influenced by your favorite music genres! In this in-person workshop led by Ivan Velez Jr, participants will uncover how Emo, Goth, Rock, and Hip-Hop music inform the content, style, and themes of anime while delving into the stylistic nuances of classic Shonen, Shoujo, and Chibi manga.

Monsters of the Bronx

Thu., May 2nd, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Ages 13-18

Create your own monster! Using the mythologies and legends of the Bronx’s immigrant community, Monsters of the Bronx tells stories about race, class, gender and the issues that haunt us all. In this in-person workshop led by Ivan Velez Jr, participants will learn basic character design and storytelling methods in the horror and mystery genre.

APRIL 23RD - NEEDLE FELTING WORKSHOP AND I STOOD MY GROUND EXHIBITION TOUR - LONGWOOD ART GALLERY @ HOSTOS

RESCHEDULED! Exploring Memory as a Continuous Thread, a needle felting workshop and exhibition tour at the Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos, is now taking place on Tuesday, April 23rd, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Led by exhibiting artist Melika Abikenari, participants will explore memory, labor, and healing through the metaphor of a continuous thread, crafting tangible creations and engaging in personal storytelling using felt and barbed needles.

This event is the public program for the current exhibition on view I Stood My Ground. This exhibition features nine artists who reimagine the use of conventional materials to expose an unconventional narrative and methodology, while inviting the viewer to learn about enigmas and perceptions that challenge the status quo. 

BCA BRONX ARTIST REGISTRY

JOIN OUR GROWING LIST OF BRONX-BASED ARTISTS

Enhance your visibility and attract commissioned work by becoming part of the thriving artist community on BCA's FREE Bronx Artist Registry. This complimentary, all-encompassing directory showcases artists across various disciplines, serving as a prime resource for those seeking talented Bronx-based artists. Crafting your profile is effortless and free – join now!

Already listed? Ensure your profile stays vibrant by updating it with your latest information. Don't forget to extend the invitation to your friends!

INSPIRATION POINT CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Featured: Aerial view of Inspiration Point Center.

Inspiration Point Center for the Arts is a cultural arts center and theater in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the Bronx. BCA supports the center for it's essential community programming, free and low-cost access to the arts, and opportunities and support for local artists. Click the button below to learn more about Inspiration Point and its offerings.

CELEBRATING EARTH DAY WITH CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE

Featured Artwork (from left to right): Poppa (2008/17), Whitney (2019), Sharese (2018), and Derek (2017), Kim Dacres, as featured in Confidence for the Future.

In honor of Earth Day, BCA remembers Confidence in the Future a 2020 exhibition at the Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos that showcased Bronx artists who explored how we can sustain and heal our planet and communities. The artists illustrated possibilities for hybrid futures through a variety of media and materials including recycled fabrics, tires, paint, collage, and test tubes. The exhibition powerfully moves us through time and space to covey concerns and dreams for tomorrow.

ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS OF THE

2024 BRONX DANCE FUND (BDF)

Featured: House of Louboutin, 2024 BDF Grantee.

BCA is thrilled to announce the 2024 grantees of the Bronx Dance Fund (BDF). Funded by the Mertz Gilmore Foundation, with supplemental support from Amazon, BDF seeks to nurture the development of artists and organizations that comprise the field of dance in The Bronx, prioritizing talented early-career dance artists and BIPOC-led organizations.

Below are the 2024 BDF grantees:

• Joan Bradford
• Bombazo Dance Co Inc.
• Davalois Fearon
• Alethea Pace
• The House of Louboutin
• Pepatián: Bronx Arts ColLABorative
• Glenn Potter-Takata
• Nélida Tirado

The Bronx Council on the Arts is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature; Arts Midwest and the National Endowment for the Arts; the Coalition of Theaters of Color; the Cultural Immigrant Initiative; City Council Members Eric Dinowitz and Marjorie Velázquez; Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson; NYS Assemblymember Michael Benedetto and the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services; and the Hispanic Federation, the City of New York, and the Department of Youth and Community Development. Also supported in part by the Howard Gilman Foundation, the Booth Ferris Foundation, the Altman Foundation, the Mertz Gilmore Foundation, Amazon, the Lily Auchincloss Foundation, the New Yankee Stadium Community Benefits Fund, the Tiger Baron Foundation, Claire and Theodore Morse Foundation, and Con Edison. Special thanks to Hostos Community College and the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture for their support.