irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $35KYaras puppet theatre pieces created by Tom Lee include: The Great Zodiac Animal Race at La MaMa, Tomte tour in Indonesia, Akutagawa tour in Japan, Sounding the Resonant Path at La MaMa in New York. Workshop projects include Mirror Pool in Chicago and Stand By. A shadow puppet piece was developed by Watoku Ueno named Silent Green, which was workshopped at the Ukrainian National Home and premiered at The East Village Basement in New York.
- #2 $22KYaras Poetry, Art, Music, Lectures and Screenings include: Mariupol: Photo Exhibition and Lecture at Howl in NYC and at the Toronto City Hall. How Fire Descends music and poetry event for NYU, Slap Songs Zhadan & Friends 2024 at Bowery Poetry Club for the Ukrainian Cultural Festival in New York, poetry readings: Kyiv Calling at Baker Falls, Three Wooden Trunks at Ottendorf NYPL and Mary Os on Ave A in New York, Your Attention Is Great & The Tree of Life for the LES Festival at Theatre for the New City. Exhibition of costumes from Yaras Winter Song on Mars at the Alexandra Exter: The Stage Is a World exhibit at the Ukrainian Museum in NYC, exhibit of Waldemart Klyuzkos art at the La MaMa Family show, Julian Kytastys Concert at the Renee & Chaim Gross Foundation, Media lectures on Yara at the La MaMa Archive and at the Ukrainian Studies School. and a lecture on Radio 477 in Kyiv. Yara also developed the UKR Co-Lab Series for new art.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Poetry, Art, Music & Lectures Series
Hosts events including poetry readings, art exhibitions, film screenings, and lectures on Ukrainian culture, such as "Mariupol: Photo Exhibition and Lecture" and "How Fire Descends."
Radio 477!
A jazz-inspired theatre piece based on a 1929 production about Kharkiv, Ukraine, performed at La MaMa Theatre.
UKR Co-Lab Series
Develops collaborative art projects with Ukrainian and diaspora artists, fostering new works in theatre, music, and visual arts.
Undesirable Elements: Ukraine
Verbatim theatre project where five Ukrainian-Americans share real family stories, exploring identity and migration.
Yara Puppet Theatre
Creates puppet-based performances such as "The Great Zodiac Animal Race" and "Silent Green," developed at La MaMa and the East Village Basement, often incorporating mythic and historical themes.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Experimental Circus and Immersive Theater Production 1 activity
- Create and perform original theatre productions exploring Eastern culturesDevelops and presents original theatre pieces that explore contemporary and traditional cultures of the East, including Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Siberia, and Japan, through multidisciplinary performances combining puppetry, music, poetry, and projections. These productions are created through rehearsal using translated texts and are performed at venues in New York, Chicago, Kyiv, Paris, Tokyo, and other international locations.
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Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
- Organize multidisciplinary cultural events and festivalsHosts live and virtual events featuring poetry, music, art, film, and performances by writers, musicians, and artists, including the annual Winter Festival and special events like "Looking Back/Moving Forward." These events showcase new works and foster cultural exchange, with both in-person and online components, including YouTube and Facebook broadcasts.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Present exhibitions on Ukrainian art and cultureOrganizes and presents art exhibitions in New York, Kyiv, Chicago, Princeton, and other locations, focusing on Ukrainian cultural figures like Les Kurbas, war documentation from Mariupol, and collaborative projects such as "Threads." These exhibitions include photographs, video, and archival materials, often accompanied by lectures and performances.
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Ukrainian Cultural Preservation Programs 1 activity
- Produce and publish multimedia artistic contentCreates and distributes video recordings of Ukrainian poetry performed in English, produces a video series on Ukrainian artists from the 1920s to 1990s, and records and uploads poetry readings and performances to platforms like YouTube and Facebook, expanding access to Ukrainian culture and artistic expression.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$151K
Contributions & grants$123K82%
Program service revenue$28K18%
Investment income$1270%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$149K
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$29K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$52K
Cash$52K
Investments$0
Liabilities$49K
Net assets$3K
Liquid reserves4.2 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -32.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virlana Tkacz | Artistic Director & Board member | 40 | $21K |
| Tom Lee | Artistic Associate & Board member | 1 | $9K |
board members · 3
- Adrian Karatnytsky — Board member
- Sam Glazer — Chairperson
- Sarah Foote — Board member
relationships · 86
Who they work with
- Amazon Partner — Corporate sponsor of Yara Arts Group in 2023.
- Ana Margineanu Partner — Collaborating artist in the Winter Festival.
- Andrea Odezhynska Partner — Collaborating artist in the Winter Festival.
- Art Arsenal Partner — Hosted the "Kurbas: New Worlds" exhibition in Kyiv
- Beautify 11th St Partner — Corporate sponsor of Yara Arts Group in 2023.
- Bob Holman Partner — Collaborating artist in the Winter Festival.
- Bowery Poetry Club Partner — Hosted Yara Arts Group's poetry events including How Fire Descends and Slap Songs Zhadan & Friends.
- Bowery Poetry Club Partner — Hosted the event "ZHADAN & FRIENDS 2025" at Bowery Poetry Club.
- Bowery Poetry Club Partner — Presented and hosted events for "Slap!" including performances and album release
- Bowery Poetry Club Partner — Venue for Yara Arts Group's poetry and performance events including "Zhadan & Friends" series.
- Charles Mott Foundation Funder — Recognized as a friend and supporter of Yara Arts Group in 2023.
- Darien Fiorino Partner — Video and projection designer collaborating with Yara Arts Group.
- Dora Graham Partner — Production coordinator for Yara Arts Group's theater production.
- Evgeniy Maloletka Partner — Collaborating artist in the Winter Festival.
- Facebook Partner — Corporate sponsor of Yara Arts Group in 2023.
- Henson Foundation Funder — Provided financial support for Yara Arts Group's puppet theatre projects.
- Howl Partner — Hosted Yara Arts Group's Mariupol: Photo Exhibition and Lecture in New York City.
- Howl Arts Partner — Hosted the "Mariupol at Howl" exhibition at their venue on the Bowery
- Japan Foundation Funder — Recognized as a friend and supporter of Yara Arts Group in 2023.
- Julian Kytasty Partner — Collaborated on the "Threads" exhibit and book launch in Chicago
- Julian Kytasty Partner — Collaborating artist in the Winter Festival.
- Julian Kytasty Partner — Musician contributing to Yara Arts Group's theater production.
- Katja Kolcio Partner — Collaborating artist in the Winter Festival.
- Keiko Obremski Partner — Costume designer for Yara Arts Group's theater production.
- La MaMa ETC Partner — Presented the play "Dark Night, Bright Stars" at La MaMa ETC in New York.
- La MaMa Experimental Theatre Network — Resident company at La MaMa Experimental Theatre in New York
- La MaMa Theatre Partner — Performance and development venue for Yara Arts Group's original theatre and puppet pieces.
- La MaMa's Puppet Festival Partner — Presented the puppetry performance installation "Sounding the Resonant Path" in collaboration with La MaMa's Puppet Festival.
- Lidnsey Wislon Partner — Collaborating artist in the Winter Festival.
- Margaret Morton Partner — Collaborating artist in the Winter Festival.
+ 56 more
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Art as Witness to Conflict and Cultural Memorymethodology: art_as_witnessBy presenting curated exhibitions and performances that document conflict and cultural heritage, Yara Arts Group amplifies Ukrainian voices in U.S. institutions because artistic witness fosters urgent public engagement and cross-diasporic solidarity through emotionally resonant storytelling.
- Collaborative Poetic Adaptation Modelmethodology: poetry-to-theatre-adaptationBy transforming poetry—especially Ukrainian literature and contemporary works—into full theatrical productions through collaborative processes, Yara Arts Group deepens cultural interpretation because poetic language, when embodied in performance, reveals nuanced emotional and environmental themes inaccessible through text alone.
- Cross-Cultural Experimental Theatremethodology: cross-cultural_experimental_theatreBy combining experimental theatre with diverse cultural traditions from Ukraine, Central Asia, Siberia, and Japan, Yara Arts Group bridges interpretive barriers across cultures and languages because shared artistic forms enable emotional and narrative understanding beyond linguistic differences.
- Interdisciplinary Integration of Art Formsmethodology: interdisciplinary_theaterBy integrating poetry, music, puppetry, dance, visual art, and historical content into multidisciplinary performances, Yara Arts Group creates immersive theatrical experiences that evoke deeper emotional resonance and cultural continuity because layered artistic media amplify narrative impact across time and tradition.