named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Bronx Recognizes Its Own (BRIO) Award
Direct grant program supporting individual artists and small arts organizations in The Bronx.
Longwood @ Governors Island
Residency program offering free studio space and stipends to Bronx-based visual artists on Governors Island.
Longwood Arts Project
Visual arts initiative providing gallery space, artist studios, and exhibitions focused on underrepresented artists in The Bronx.
SU-CASA
City-funded program placing artists in senior centers to lead creative aging activities including dance, writing, and crafts.
Youth Engagement Program
Arts education initiative for Bronx youth offering workshops in public speaking, critical thinking, and creative expression.
activities · 8 groups
What they do
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Art Museum Funding and Support 1 activity
- Administers grant programs for Bronx artists and arts organizationsThe Bronx Council on the Arts administers four city- and state-funded regranting programs, including the BRIO (Bronx Recognizes Its Own) Awards, which provide monetary grants to individual artists and small arts organizations. These are the largest regranting programs in The Bronx, supporting community-centered arts and culture projects across multiple disciplines.
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Delivers professional development workshops for artistsOffers the Artist Sustainability Workshop Series to help artists develop professional skills such as career planning, marketing, and financial management to strengthen long-term sustainability. This capacity-building initiative supports both individual artists and arts organizations.
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Business Member Promotion Services 1 activity
- Manages the Bronx Artist Registry to connect artists with opportunitiesOperates and maintains the Bronx Artist Registry, an online directory that enables Bronx-based artists to create public profiles with samples of work, bios, and contact information. The platform supports visibility and connections for commissioned work, public art projects, and other opportunities, reaching over 5,000 monthly website visitors.
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Senior Social & Enrichment Programming 1 activity
- Operates artist residency programs for at-risk and senior populationsPlaces professional artists in community-based organizations across The Bronx for four-month residencies, offering creative workshops in memoir writing, crafts, dance, and theater for elderly, disabled, homeless, and other at-risk populations. Includes the SU-CASA program specifically connecting artists with seniors at local centers to support well-being through multidisciplinary arts activities.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Operates the Longwood Arts Project gallery spaceRuns the Longwood Arts Project, an alternative, artist-led gallery established in 1981 that centers visual artists with cultural traditions underrepresented in mainstream venues. The program includes rotating exhibitions and is housed in a newly renovated headquarters in Westchester Square, with the 2025 exhibition season planned.
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Traditional & Cultural Performing Arts 1 activity
- Produces public arts performances and cultural eventsProduces the BX Expressions Concert and Performance series, showcasing music, dance, theater, and spoken word artists that reflect the cultural diversity of The Bronx. Also hosts gallery exhibitions, artist talks, concerts, and community forums that use art as a tool for public engagement and advocacy.
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Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
- Provides youth engagement and arts education programsConnects Bronx youth with the local visual arts scene through free, age-appropriate arts activities led by professional teaching artists. Programs focus on building critical thinking, interviewing, and public speaking skills, and include the Youth Engagement Program launched at Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos in 2018 and the Longwood @ Governors Island Residency Program conducted from May to October 2024.
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Literary and Cultural Publishing 1 activity
- Publishes the Bronx Memoir Project Anthology annuallyOffers free writing workshops led by professional writers for Bronx residents to share personal stories, culminating in the annual publication of the Bronx Memoir Project Anthology. Published Volumes V through IX between 2021 and 2025, with virtual and in-person book launches, engaging over 100 participants and contributors annually.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$3.00M
Contributions & grants$2.94M98%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$30K1%
Other revenue$23K
expenses
Total expenses$2.85M
Program expenses79%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits$954K
Grants paid out$976K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$8.56M
Cash$1.36M
Investments$0
Liabilities$457K
Net assets$8.11M
Liquid reserves5.7 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +6.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIVIANA BIANCHI | EXECUTIVE DI | 40 | $149K |
board members · 10
- ALEXANDER CAMPOS — BOARD MEMBER
- AMINAH ABDUL-MAJEED — SECRETARY
- CATHY KAPLAN — BOARD MEMBER
- CHARLES RICE-GONZALEZ — CHAIR
- EILEEN NEWMAN — VICE PRESIDE
- LEENDA BONILLA — BOARD MEMBER
- LISA SORIN — BOARD MEMBER
- RHINA VALENTIN — BOARD MEMBER
- SHANNON HARTLEY — VP & TREASUR
- TEJUANA ROBERTS — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 19
Who they work with
- ArtsPool Partner — Partner organization providing financial management, workforce administration, and compliance support for arts nonprofits
- Bronx Recognizes Its Own (BRIO) Partner — BRIO is a program of The Bronx Council on the Arts that awards monetary grants to local artists.
- BronxArtSpace Partner — Hosted Bronx Memoir Project workshops.
- BronxNet Partner — Collaborates with BronxNet, as evidenced by shared programming and board membership.
- Chase Bank Partner — Donated the organization's first program space in Westchester Square.
- Congressman Joseph Crowley Government — Provided support for the initiative to establish BCA's new facility.
- Councilman Jimmy Vacca Government — Provided support for the initiative to establish BCA's new facility.
- Format Magazine Partner — Collaborates by sharing educational resources for artists, including a guide on writing art proposals.
- Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture Partner — Partnered with BCA to establish the Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos on the Hostos Community College campus.
- Hostos Community College Partner — Hosted the Longwood Art Gallery @ Hostos on its campus from 2003 to 2024.
- JPMorgan Chase Partner — Provided donations and assistance for the development of BCA's new facility.
- Longwood Arts Project Partner — Collaborates on organizing and presenting art exhibitions at the Longwood Art Gallery.
- Mayor Michael Bloomberg Government — Provided support for the initiative to establish BCA's new facility.
- National Endowment for the Arts Funder — Provided partial support for the Bronx Memoir Project.
- New York City Government — Partners with New York City on the SU-CASA initiative to connect artists with seniors at community centers.
- New York City Government — Partners with New York City on the SU-CASA initiative to deliver arts programming for older adults.
- New York Public Library Partner — Hosted Bronx Memoir Project workshops at Kingsbridge and Mott Haven branches.
- Poe Park Visitor Center Partner — Hosted Bronx Memoir Project workshops.
- cultural, community and social justice organizations Partner — Collaborates with cultural, community, and social justice organizations to lead artist-facilitated community discussions on public concerns in The Bronx.
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 a Catalyst for Engagement and Advocacymethodology: art-for-engagement-and-advocacyBy using artist-led community conversations and exhibitions on social justice themes, the organization drives public dialogue and advocacy, because art creates emotionally resonant entry points for civic engagement that traditional formats lack.
- Community-Based Artist Placement for Well-Beingmethodology: community-based_artist_placementBy placing professional artists directly in community sites, the organization improves well-being among at-risk populations such as the elderly, disabled, and homeless, because access to creative expression fosters personal and communal resilience.
- Culturally Relevant Arts Engagement for Youth and Artistsmethodology: culturally_relevant_engagementBy connecting youth and under-resourced artists with culturally relevant experiences and local role models, the organization deepens engagement and belonging, because shared identity and context increase trust, participation, and sustained involvement in the arts.
- Equitable Access Through Peer-Led Grantmaking and Open Curationmethodology: peer_review_equityBy using peer-review panels with diverse representation and open-call curatorial processes, the organization ensures fair and innovative access to funding and programming opportunities, because community-led decision-making increases equity, transparency, and relevance in cultural production.