Press Release
Contacts:
Esther Robinson, co-executive director
ArtBuilt/ ArtBuilt Mobile Studios
robinson.esther@gmail.com
Hasiba Haq, Program Manager
Arts & Democracy
haq.hasiba@gmail.com
ArtBuilt Mobile Studios and Arts & Democracy Opens Avenue C Plaza’s Third Season of Cultural and Arts Programming; Brooklyn Historical Society partnership added to annual Community Iftar
Beginning Saturday June 2nd, ArtBuilt Mobile studio will kick off its third year of free cultural and arts programming at the Avenue C Plaza in Kensington, Brooklyn. In partnership with The Kensington Stewards, Arts & Democracy, and the Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts (BIPA), ArtBuilt will help facilitate various workshops, performances, and arts programming for Immigrant Culture month at the plaza.
Programming will begin with two popular workshops the first weekend of June. The first event is cultural planting by co-founder of The GreenWorks Team Sue Braverman, where participants will learn about local plants and take home two plant cuttings. The second will be Painting at the Plaza with Pinot’s Palette, a local art studio that teaches attendees to paint a picture that they can then take home.
ArtBuilt and Arts & Democracy have consistently integrated arts and culture to the already diverse fabric of Kensington these past two years and intend to continue their work in collaboration with community members. "Kensington's dynamic and diverse community is always inspiring to us and our work," says ArtBuilt Co-Executive Director Esther Robinson. "Both of our organizations are dedicated to cultivating arts and cultural programming with and for various communities and we look forward to continuing our work in Kensington," adds Arts & Democracy Program Manager Hasiba Haq. “Arts & Democracy is committed to supporting artists and cultural work within the Bangladeshi community and using it as a means to advance social justice causes and participatory democracy.”
Other events for this month include the ever popular kite-making workshop with Jill Reinier of The Singing Winds, vibrant paper mache alebrijes and Aztec/Mayan Print making with Kensington local Cynthia Fortoza, community quilt making, an exuberant cultural showcase with performances from local talent, star gazing with astronomers, rhythmic Bangla singing with Annie Ferdous of BIPA and more!
A special co-sponsorship with Brooklyn Historical Society will take place during the annual community iftar on Mon June 4th. Muslim and non-Muslim neighbors are invited to break fast together and sample Ramadan foods from around the world while learning more about Ramadan and Brooklyn Historical Society’s Muslims in Brooklyn Project – a multi-year public arts and oral history project designed to amplify the stories of various Muslim communities in Brooklyn, including the Bangladeshi-Muslim community of Kensington.
“We are honored that Muslim communities all over the Borough, like those in Kensington, are willing to share their powerful stories with Brooklyn Historical Society as part of the Muslims in Brooklyn Project,” comments Deborah Schwartz, President of Brooklyn Historical Society. “The Community Iftar is just one of the many programs that we look forward to hosting as part of the project’s effort to aid in understanding and honoring the history and culture of the many Muslim communities who now call Brooklyn home.”
Arts and culture programming at the Avenue C Plaza is made possible with the ardent and enthusiastic support of local government and community members.“I’m thrilled for Avenue C Plaza’s exciting summer lineup of events and programming that reflect the diverse and special community it serves,” said Council Member Brad Lander. “I’m proud every year to help fund the Plaza, and I look forward to attending many events this summer.”
"We have been lucky to have such strong support from the NYC City Council, Council member Brad Lander, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, The Kensington Stewards, Department of Transportation, Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts, neighborhood schools and all the amazing members of the local community," says ArtBuilt Co-Executive Director Guy Buckles, "these essential partnerships help make June in Kensington one of the high points of our yearly calendar!"
Location + programming info:
Avenue C Plaza is located at the intersection of McDonald Ave and Ave C in Kensington and is accessible via the F/G trains at Church Ave and the B67 bus. Weekly program listings can be found on the Ave C Plaza Facebook page.
Twitter: #AveCPlaza Facebook: https://facebook.com/avecplaza Or @avecplaza.
About ArtBuilt:
ArtBuilt is a Brooklyn-based non-profit that supports the creative sector in NYC and nationally through three programming initiatives: ArtBuilt Mobile Studios deliver needed programs and services to underserved communities by providing innovative mobile workspaces to artists and, social-service providers, and micro-businesses; ArtBuilt Brooklyn provides long-term, affordable workspace for artists and arts-based businesses; and ArtHome provides asset-building strategies and financial literacy training for individual artists and creative business-people. Current ArtBuilt Mobile Studios programming includes community-engaged on-site artist residencies and public events in city parks and street plazas across NYC and beyond, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts, NYC’s City Council, NYC Parks, NYC DOT, and others.
Twitter: @ArtbuiltNyc Instagram: @ArtbuiltNyc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtBuiltMobileStudios
About Arts & Democracy
Arts & Democracy cross pollinates culture, participatory democracy, and social justice. We support cultural organizing and cross-sector collaborations; raise the visibility of transformative work; connect cultural practitioners with activists, organizers, and policymakers; and create spaces for reflection. Arts & Democracy has provided programming for the Bangladeshi community in Kensington for the past three years and continues to work with Bangladeshi youth and women in the neighborhood.
Twitter: @artanddemocracy Instagram: @artsanddemocracy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtsandDemocracy
