named programs · 8 · from sources
What they call their work
Art & Ability Show
Annual exhibition featuring artists with mental and physical disabilities; discontinued after six years due to lack of elevator access
International Bridge Exhibitions
Program of international cultural exchange with artists and institutions from countries including Cuba, Japan, Russia, and Vietnam
Musical Meltdown
Annual music festival featuring over 20 bands performing from afternoon until 6 a.m. the next day
Permanent Collection Exhibitions
Curated exhibitions from the WAH Center’s permanent collection of over 300 contemporary artworks by local, national, and international artists
WAH Salon Art Club
Membership program for artists that includes annual January Salon Exhibition and opportunities for solo shows at the WAH Center or affiliated spaces
Williamsburg Arts & Culture Festival (WAC Festival)
Festival featuring galleries, open studios, local businesses, and a free shuttle loop; promotes community-wide cultural engagement
Williamsburg Dance Festival
Annual dance festival featuring local and regional performers
Williamsburg Film Festival
Annual festival showcasing film, part of a series of cultural festivals organized by the WAH Center
activities · 10 groups
What they do
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Neighborhood Civic Engagement 1 activity
- Advocating for community interests through public engagementHosted community meetings with Community Board One and organized two public forums to oppose a proposed waste disposal site near the Center, demonstrating active civic advocacy.
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Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
- Conducting historical research and preservation initiativesEngages in historical research on the Williamsburg area in collaboration with historian John Derezewski and preserves historical artifacts and properties associated with the Center’s mission and site.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Curating and hosting contemporary art exhibitionsProduces over 200 fine art exhibitions featuring more than 3,000 artists, including thematic series on natural materials (Clay and Textile, Wood and Paper, etc.), AI-generated art ("Beyond Interface and Prompt"), and original architectural plans of Brooklyn landmarks. Also hosts annual January Salon Exhibitions for the WAH Salon Art Club.
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Artist Legacy Preservation and Documentation 1 activity
- Maintaining a permanent collection of contemporary artHolds and preserves a permanent collection of over 300 contemporary artworks, including pieces by internationally recognized artists such as Judy Chicago, Yayoi Kusama, and Faith Ringgold. The collection has been publicly exhibited in curated shows such as “Selected Contemporary Works from the Permanent Collection” (2009).
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Cultural Facility Development and Management 1 activity
- Operating a multidisciplinary art center in a historic landmark buildingOperates the Williamsburg Art & Historical Center in a French Second Empire-style landmark building built in 1867, preserving the structure and integrating it into the cultural life of Williamsburg through exhibitions, performances, and public programs. The building was donated to the organization in 2008.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Organizing annual cultural festivals and public eventsProduces annual festivals including the Williamsburg Arts & Culture Festival (with free shuttle service), Williamsburg Film Festival, Williamsburg Dance Festival, Musical Meltdown, Spring Festivals, Fashion Festivals, and Historical Walking Tours, attracting thousands of visitors each year.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Presenting performance programs in music, dance, theater, and interdisciplinary artsHosts over 150 performance programs featuring more than 1,000 performers, including The Pentiment Series for experimental and improvisational music, and manages dedicated programs in dance, theater, synchronized performance, and music. These programs are directed by staff curators and include both local and international artists.
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Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Providing art education and community learning programsOffers art education initiatives for children, teachers, parents, patrons, and peers to promote mutual learning and engagement with the arts.
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Art Programs for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities 1 activity
- Supporting artists with disabilities through dedicated exhibitionsHosted an annual Art & Ability exhibition for artists with mental and physical disabilities for six years, providing a platform for inclusive artistic expression.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Producing multimedia content and artist collaborationsProduces video works such as "MY WAH" in collaboration with filmmaker Petar Talijancic, and documents restoration and programming through photography and video by local professionals.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$29K
Contributions & grants$5K16%
Program service revenue$18K63%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$34K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$27K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$-19K
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +105.2%
relationships · 32
Who they work with
- Barbara Skarbinski Partner — Member of the restoration committee; Director of Design & Review with the NYC Department of Housing Preservation.
- Barrelhouse Conference Partner — Featured WAH Center Reading Director K Hank Jost as editor
- Battery Dance Partner — Employed WAH Center Dance Director Robin Cantrell for 16 years and featured her choreography internationally
- Brent Porter Partner — Member of the restoration committee; Professor at Pratt Institute.
- Brooklyn Center for Theatre Research Partner — Hosted workshops led by WAH Center Reading Director K Hank Jost
- Brooklyn College Partner — Collaborates with the WAH Center on initiatives to improve quality of life for residents.
- Canada Council for the Arts Partner — Commissioned original compositions and provided instrument support to WAH Center Music Director Daniel Haas
- Community Board One Partner — Hosted joint community meetings to discuss local development issues, including opposition to a proposed waste disposal site.
- Craig Morrison Partner — Serves as a restoration architect on the building’s restoration project and completed schematic plans for the restoration and clock tower.
- Floreo H. LaGuardia High School Partner — Hosted guest lectures by WAH Center Music Director Steve Long
- Gabrielle Lamb’s PigeonWing Dance Partner — Current performance ensemble for WAH Center Dance Director Robin Cantrell
- Glenn Gould Foundation Partner — Commissioned original compositions from WAH Center Music Director Daniel Haas
- Gotham Writers Workshop Partner — Hosts WAH Center Reading Director K Hank Jost as instructor
- John Derezewski Partner — Collaborates as a historian on research into the history of the Williamsburg area.
- Northeastern University Partner — Hosted workshops by WAH Center Music Director Steve Long on queerness in American Experimentalism
- Pace University Partner — Hosts WAH Center Dance Director Robin Cantrell as visiting professor
- Petar Talijancic Partner — Collaborated on the production of the video "MY WAH" about the WAH Center.
- Petar Talijancic Partner — Collaborated on the production of the video "MY WAH".
- Pratt Institute Partner — Collaborates with the WAH Center on initiatives to improve quality of life for residents.
- Pratt Institute Partner — Yuko Nii, founder of WAH Center, is an alumna and recipient of the Pratt Institute Alumni Achievement Award; the institution has a professional and educational affiliation with the organization.
- Queens New Music Festival Partner — Commissioned original compositions from WAH Center Music Director Daniel Haas
- Revolve Dance Project Partner — Commissioned original compositions from WAH Center Music Director Daniel Haas
- Shoji Sadao Partner — Member of the restoration committee; Director of the Isamu Noguchi Foundation.
- Terrance Lindall Partner — Collaborated with Yuko Nii in the establishment of the WAH Center as an artist and founding partner.
- The New School Partner — Hosts WAH Center Music Director Steve Long as faculty member
- Vassar College Partner — Hosts WAH Center Dance Director Robin Cantrell as visiting professor
- Yuko Nii Foundation Network — Related entity supporting the mission of the Williamsburg Art & Historical Center.
- Yuko Nii Foundation Network — Separate foundation established to hold and preserve the art, historical artifacts, and landmark building associated with the WAH Center.
- Yuko Nii Foundation Partner — Collaborates with the WAH Center in support of its mission and programs.
- Yuko Nii Foundation Partner — Collaborates with the Yuko Nii Foundation, which is associated with the founding and ongoing mission of the WAH Center.
+ 2 more
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.
- Art as a Bridge for Cross-Cultural and Interdisciplinary Understandingmethodology: Bridge ConceptBy using art as a unifying, international language, we connect diverse artists across geography, career stage, and discipline to foster mutual understanding and global peace, because shared creative expression transcends cultural and conceptual boundaries.
- Cultural and Community Revitalization Through Historic Arts Infrastructuremethodology: cultural-led_revitalizationBy restoring and maintaining a landmark cultural building, we drive cultural and economic revitalization in underserved communities, because shared heritage spaces act as anchors for community-centered programming and inclusive economic growth.
- Support for Boundary-Transcending Artists and Art Formsmethodology: uncategorizable-art_supportBy providing platforms for artists whose work resists traditional categorization, we enable innovative expression and interdisciplinary convergence, because dissolving rigid artistic boundaries fosters more authentic and transformative creative experiences.