COMMON MAPS
Map version new-york activity top-down
Main site Contact
Menu
↑ parent activity group ·
research dossier

Illuminart Productions
Staten Island, NY · EIN 421727647 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Small ($100K-$1M) · illuminart.org
revenue
$878K
expenses
$898K
net assets
$53K
employees
29
program ratio
78%
mission · from form 990

PROMOTE ART AND THEATRE PRODUCTION AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION.

profile · synthesized from sources

Theater and arts education nonprofit based in Staten Island, New York, that creates original performances and arts programs for schools and communities. Uses theater to address social issues such as bullying, substance use, immigration, and grief. Serves youth and seniors through touring productions, residencies, and interactive workshops, with a focus on social-emotional learning and community dialogue.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Arts Empowerment
Substance use prevention program for grades 3+ using theater, mindfulness, and arts activities to teach emotional regulation and decision-making skills.
Arts Residencies
12-20 week programs in schools and communities offering classes in playwriting, musical theater, visual arts, and dance, culminating in a performance or exhibit.
Senior Boomers Ensemble
Arts program for senior adults that includes theater, storytelling, and creative expression, currently offered at the JCC South Shore Neighborhood Senior Center.
Theatre for Young Audiences
Season of mainstage productions, library tours, and early childhood theater experiences designed for children and families on Staten Island.
Touring Company
Professional actors tour schools and community centers with interactive, socially conscious performances followed by talk-back sessions; serves PreK-12 and senior centers.
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Community-Engaged Theater Production 2 activities
    • Delivers touring theater performances and talk-back sessions to schools and communities
      Provides in-person theatrical performances to schools, senior centers, and communities across Staten Island and other locations, followed by interactive talk-back sessions to foster dialogue on social issues. The touring model supports accessibility and engagement with diverse audiences.
    • Produces original theatrical productions on social and emotional themes
      Creates and performs original theatrical works that address bullying, violence, substance use, relationship abuse, cultural heritage, aging, grief, and loss, primarily for youth and community audiences in New York City. Productions include "Prescription for Addiction," "Sometimes I Just Want Ice Cream," and "Legacy Talks, We Listen," with performances often tied to educational or prevention goals.
  • Community-Engaged Public Art Projects 1 activity
    • Facilitates collaborative mural creation in schools
      Operates a Mural Residency Program in which students co-create and paint large-scale murals, enhancing artistic skills and transforming school environments through collective creative expression.
  • Comprehensive K–12 Arts Education 1 activity
    • Implements long-term arts residencies in schools and communities
      Runs structured arts education programs lasting 12 to 20 weeks that integrate theater, visual arts, poetry, and movement, culminating in a performance, exhibit, or showcase. Programs include Social Emotional Learning (SEL) components and are delivered in schools and community settings.
  • Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
    • Offers specialized arts programs for youth and families
      Produces mainstage performances, Theatre for the Very Young programs, and a Free Library Tour to increase access to theater for children and families. Also runs Create-A-Play, a signature program introducing students of any age to playwriting, and produces family-oriented shows such as “Sami the Squirrel and the Great Acorn Adventure.”
  • Creative Arts Therapy Programs 1 activity
    • Provides arts-based substance use prevention programming
      Delivers curriculum-integrated arts and mindfulness programs for students that support emotional regulation and substance use prevention, informed by Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Includes co-created productions like “Prescription for Addiction” and the Arts Empowerment program for grade three and up.
  • Senior Social & Enrichment Programming 1 activity
    • Supports artistic expression and performance among older adults
      Runs the Senior Boomers Ensemble program, in which older adults create and perform theatrical scenes, poetry, or visual art based on their life stories, fostering intergenerational connection and personal growth.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Establishes and manages organizational operations and expansion
      Co-founded IlluminArt Productions in Michigan in 2002, incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 2006, and established its presence in Staten Island, New York in 2009, building infrastructure and leadership capacity to support ongoing programming.
    • Offers identity-based interactive workshops
      Provides a complimentary interactive workshop where participants explore the legacy of their names and create visual collages representing their personal identity, promoting self-expression and connection.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$878K
Contributions & grants$854K97%
Program service revenue$8K1%
Investment income$70%
Other revenue$16K
expenses
Total expenses$898K
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead22%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$672K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$274K
Cash$5K
Investments$0
Liabilities$221K
Net assets$53K
Liquid reserves0.1 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -3.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 9
  • Arlene Sorkin — Exec. Director
  • Charles Parisi — Trustee
  • Edna Greenwich — Trustee
  • Erica Perez — Trustee
  • Gina Russo — Trustee
  • Kenneth Silber — Trustee/PastChr
  • Linda Brill — Trustee
  • Michelle Lee — Trustee
  • Rev Kirstin Swanson — Trustee
relationships · 16

Who they work with

  • Ally Popick Partner — Stage Manager and Audio Technician for IlluminArt Productions Touring Company
  • Camp Good Grief of Staten Island Partner — Provided input through alumni discussions that informed the development of “Sometimes I Just Want Ice Cream”
  • Citi Bank Funder — Provided support for the production of “Sami the Squirrel and the Great Acorn Adventure”
  • Curtis High School Partner — Hosted performances of "Nation of Immigrants" as part of a program to address community-wide social issues.
  • Ghostlight Players Partner — Collaborates with Ghostlight Players in community theater productions on Staten Island.
  • Ghostlight Players Partner — Partner organization for theatrical productions, including "Blithe Spirit."
  • Hillel at the College of Staten Island Partner — Partnered with IlluminArt Productions for student theater and empowerment programming.
  • JCC Partner — Host site for the Senior Boomers Ensemble program.
  • JCC South Shore Neighborhood Senior Center Partner — Hosted ACTive Adult classes that engaged senior participants in theater and creative expression.
  • New Ventures Charter School Partner — Collaborates with IlluminArt Productions to provide students opportunities for creative expression and emotional support.
  • Nonprofit Staten Island Partner — Arlene Sorkin has served on the board since 2012 and co-chaired the annual Community Service Awards.
  • SI Shakespeare Partner — Collaborative partner for theatrical productions, including "Timon of Athens."
  • SSET Partner — Uses the Support for Students Exposed to Trauma (SSET) curriculum as part of the Arts Empowerment program.
  • SUNY Empire State University Partner — Keith Taylor earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from SUNY Empire State University.
  • Susan E. Wagner High School Partner — Collaborated with IlluminArt to co-create the play “Prescription for Addiction”
  • Theatre for Young Audiences 2025-26 season sponsor Partner — Sponsor of the 2025-26 Theatre for Young Audiences season
strategies · 3

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.

  • Student-Centered Co-Creation Model
    methodology: student_led_cocreation
    By placing youth at the center of the creative process through student-led programming and co-creation with teaching artists, we foster agency and empowerment, because ownership of artistic expression strengthens engagement and personal growth.
  • Theater for Social Change and Dialogue
    methodology: theater-for-social-change
    By using theater as a platform to explore social issues, we generate audience dialogue and self-examination, because immersive storytelling disrupts stereotypes and creates emotional entry points for reflection and behavioral change.
  • Trauma-Informed, Inclusive Arts Pedagogy
    methodology: trauma_informed_inclusion
    By integrating trauma-informed principles and inclusive character design into arts programming, we create emotionally safe environments that support regulation and belonging, because safety and representation enable deeper participation and SEL skill development.