named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Broadway Billboard
Public art series displaying visual artworks on a billboard along Broadway in Queens
Emerging Artist Fellowship (EAF)
Program supporting early-career artists with resources and exhibition opportunities at the park
Folly/Function
Exhibition series focused on architectural interventions and functional sculpture in the public realm
The Socrates Annual
Fellowship program and annual exhibition featuring new commissioned works by selected artists, culminating in a major public exhibition
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Commissions and hosts temporary and long-term public art exhibitionsProduces annual and seasonal exhibitions featuring solo and group presentations by emerging and internationally recognized artists, including major installations, billboard series since 1999, and co-presented projects such as "Reclaimed Futures" with Materials for the Arts; maintains a record through exhibition catalogues.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Hosts free public programs and community eventsOrganizes a wide range of free cultural and recreational activities including yoga, meditation, dance festivals, kayaking programs, seasonal festivals like the Halloween Harvest Festival, and community clean-up days during Climate Week, designed with attention to health and safety.
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Facility Accessibility Improvements 1 activity
- Maintains visitor amenities and accessibility featuresProvides ADA-accessible portable restrooms (seasonal from April to October), public seating via perimeter benches, dog waste bag dispensers, and ensures physical access through a wheelchair-friendly pathway to support inclusive public use of the park.
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Urban Park and Public Space Conservation 1 activity
- Operates a free public sculpture park on the East River waterfrontManages a five-acre waterfront park in New York City open 365 days a year from 9 AM to sunset, offering free admission to exhibitions, public art, and natural landscapes including a flat grassy lawn, decorative plantings, tree grove, and wheelchair-accessible cobblestone pathway.
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Digital Visitor Engagement via Mobile App 1 activity
- Provides digital access to exhibitions and park historyOffers a free digital guide through the Bloomberg Connects app featuring artist interviews, exhibition videos, artwork documentation, and a comprehensive archive of the park’s 30-year history, accessible to the public anytime.
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Artist Support Grants 1 activity
- Supports artists through an annual fellowship programRuns a competitive fellowship program that selects early-career artists via open call, providing each with a $10,000 production grant, $4,000 honorarium, studio access, technical guidance, and material support valued at $8,000–$10,000, culminating in a public exhibition at the park.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.60M
Contributions & grants$1.53M96%
Program service revenue$13K1%
Investment income$58K4%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$2.74M
Program expenses72%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising14%
Salaries & benefits$1.49M
Grants paid out$67K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.80M
Cash$311K
Investments$623K
Liabilities$123K
Net assets$1.68M
Liquid reserves4.1 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +0.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATHERINE DIXON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $216K |
| SHAUN LEONARDO | CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 32 | $20K |
board members · 11
- ALISON SAAR — DIRECTOR
- AMY HAU — DIRECTOR
- DEIDREA MILLER — DIRECTOR
- IVANA MESTROVIC — PRESIDENT/TREASURER
- KIMBERLY STRONG — DIRECTOR
- MALAIKA LANGA — DIRECTOR
- MICHELLE COFFEY — DIRECTOR
- NAT OPPENHEIMER — DIRECTOR
- PATTON HINDLE — DIRECTOR
- STUART MATCH SUNA — DIRECTOR
- SUZY DELVALLE — DIRECTOR
relationships · 44
Who they work with
- A G Foundation Funder — Major funder of The Socrates Annual Fellowship
- Agnes Denes Partner — Collaborated with artist Agnes Denes to present "The Living Pyramid" installation.
- Astoria Yoga Partner — Collaborates on weekly yoga programming at the park.
- Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Nueva York Partner — Presents cultural performance "La Guelaguetza" at the park.
- Big Reuse Partner — Partnered on the Compost Collection Program, which ended in December 2023.
- Big Reuse Partner — Partnered with Socrates Sculpture Park on the Compost Collection Program, which ended in December 2023.
- Blavatnik Family Foundation Funder — Provided critical funds to support Socrates Sculpture Park during the Covid-19 crisis.
- Bloomberg Connects Partner — Provides a digital guide for exhibitions through the Bloomberg Connects app.
- Bloomberg Philanthropies Partner — Partnered to provide the Bloomberg Connects app as a digital guide to the park.
- Bloomberg Philanthropies Partner — Provides free Wi-Fi at Socrates Sculpture Park.
- Charina Foundation Funder — Major funder of The Socrates Annual Fellowship
- Devra Freelander Artist Fund Funder — Major funder of The Socrates Annual Fellowship
- Film Forum Partner — Co-presented the Outdoor Cinema Series from 1998 through 2019.
- Grow NYC Partner — Partnered on the Compost Collection Program, which ended in December 2023.
- Grow NYC Partner — Partnered with Socrates Sculpture Park on the Compost Collection Program, which ended in December 2023.
- Hip to Hip Theatre Company Partner — Presents theatrical performances including "As You Like It" at the park.
- LIC Boathouse Partner — Co-hosts community kayaking programs at Hallet’s Cove.
- Lambent Foundation Funder — Major funder of The Socrates Annual Fellowship
- Los Angeles Urban Rangers Partner — Partners with the Los Angeles Urban Rangers for interdisciplinary art projects.
- Mary Mattingly Partner — Hosted artist Mary Mattingly’s exhibition "Ebb of a Spring Tide" from May 20 to September 10, 2023.
- Materials for the Arts Partner — Co-presents the "Reclaimed Futures" exhibition with Socrates Sculpture Park.
- Materials for the Arts Partner — Co-presents the Reclaimed Futures exhibition.
- MexFest Partner — Hosts movement and storytelling programs under the "Cuerpxs en Resonancia" series.
- Milton and Sally Avery Foundation Funder — Major funder of The Socrates Annual Fellowship
- Mindful Astoria Partner — Partners to offer sunset meditation sessions.
- NYC COVID-19 Response and Impact Fund in The New York Community Trust Funder — Provided generous support to Socrates Sculpture Park during the Covid-19 crisis.
- NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provides public funding for The Socrates Annual Fellowship in partnership with the New York City Council
- NYC Parks Government — Operating partner in the management and stewardship of Socrates Sculpture Park.
- Nona Faustine Partner — Partnered with artist Nona Faustine for the Broadway Billboard as part of the “MONUMENTS NOW” series.
- Pioneers Go East Collective Partner — Collaborates with the Pioneers Go East Collective on artistic programming or exhibitions.
+ 14 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.
- Artist-Centered Residency and Curation Modelmethodology: artist_centered_residencyBy empowering artists through peer-led selection, self-determined timelines, and on-site fabrication, the organization supports artistic development at critical career stages because autonomy, peer recognition, and process visibility enhance creative risk-taking and public connection.
- Community-Engaged Public Art Programmingmethodology: community_engaged_public_artBy integrating public art with community participation and free programming, the organization fosters inclusive engagement and strengthens connections between artists, local history, and the natural environment, because shared creative experiences build collective belonging and stewardship.
- Digital-Environmental Synchronization for Expanded Accessmethodology: environmental_digital_synchronizationBy aligning digital platforms with real-time environmental conditions, the organization creates a living connection between the physical park and online audiences, because mirroring atmospheric changes online deepens experiential continuity and broadens engagement beyond geographic limits.
- Temporary, Rotating Exhibition Model with Documentationmethodology: temporary_exhibition_with_documentationBy commissioning temporary artworks and producing archival catalogues, the organization enables dynamic, evolving public art experiences while preserving ephemeral works for future access, because impermanence encourages innovation and documentation ensures lasting cultural value.