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ARTSHACK BROOKLYN INC

BROOKLYN, NY · EIN 811692702 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A25 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M) · artshackbrooklyn.org
revenue
$2.2M
expenses
$2.3M
net assets
$161K
employees
35
volunteers
25
program ratio
90%
mission · from form 990

THE ORGANIZATION'S PURPOSE IS TO FOSTER CREATIVITY, SELF-RESPECTIVE, AND EMPOWER PEOPLE THROUGH THE USE OF CERAMICS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Artshack Brooklyn is a nonprofit community ceramics studio in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, founded in 2016. It provides accessible clay-based programming for residents of all ages and skill levels, with a focus on inclusivity, anti-racism, and community creativity. The organization offers classes, workshops, scholarships, and studio access to foster self-expression and lifelong learning through ceramics.

named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Adult Scholarships
Provides full scholarships for 8-week classes to Black and Brown-identifying individuals, with priority for long-term Bed-Stuy residents
Artshack Lab
Hosts workshops and serves as a residency space for artist-educators focused on pedagogical experimentation and public engagement
Community Days
Free, drop-in handbuilding events open to all ages, designed to promote community connection and shared creation
Seniors Sliding Scale Pricing
Offers reduced tuition fees for Bed-Stuy residents aged 65 and older
Work Study Program
Offers participants half off class tuition in exchange for 30 minutes of studio setup and cleanup before and after class
activities · 3 groups

What they do

  • Community Art Education Workshops 5 activities
    • Hosting public and social ceramics events
      Hosts free guided hand-building events open to all ages, Date Night classes for couples, clay parties for groups, and one-off introductory classes, designed to make ceramics accessible in social and low-barrier settings.
    • Offering adult ceramics classes
      Provides a range of adult ceramics classes including beginner to advanced wheel throwing, handbuilding, and specialty courses, delivered in multi-week sessions (6- and 8-week formats) across six annual terms, with foundational instruction in centering, pulling, shaping, trimming, glazing, and personal artistic development.
    • Operating a community ceramics studio
      Operates a community ceramics studio in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, open to residents of all ages and abilities, with daily studio access from 6am to 12am, three classroom studios, and inclusive programming centered on clay as a medium for creativity and community engagement.
    • Providing member-based studio access
      Offers membership to a fully equipped ceramics studio with 24-hour access, storage shelves, full use of tools and materials, discounted workshops, firing services (bisque to Cone 06, glaze to Cone 6), luster firings, and clay available for purchase at cost, supporting independent artistic practice.
    • Providing youth ceramics programs
      Offers afterschool youth programs, one-week summer camps, drop-in Kids Camp days during school breaks, and family-focused clay workshops for children under 16, supporting creative development through structured and informal ceramics education.
  • Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
    • Expanding access through financial support and inclusive pricing
      Offers sliding scale pricing for older adults, full-tuition scholarships for Black and Brown-identifying individuals (with priority for long-term Bed-Stuy residents), and work-study opportunities that provide 50% tuition discounts in exchange for class setup and cleanup support.
  • Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
    • Supporting artist development through residencies and workshops
      Runs a process-based residency program at Artshack Lab for artist-educators to develop new work through studio practice and public engagement, and offers professional development workshops for BIPOC arts educators and ceramic artists to support creative exchange.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$2.21M
Contributions & grants$236K11%
Program service revenue$1.98M90%
Investment income$5K0%
Other revenue$-15K
expenses
Total expenses$2.35M
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$1.07M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.37M
Cash$106K
Investments$105K
Liabilities$1.21M
Net assets$161K
Liquid reserves1.1 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +2.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
MCKENDREE KEY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $113K
board members · 7
  • BEVERLEY WATSON — DIRECTOR
  • CYNTHIA ROBINSON-BIOH — DIRECTOR (TERM 05/2024)
  • HELEN WARWICK — DIRECTOR
  • JASON SHURE — TREASURER
  • NICHOLAS OH — DIRECTOR
  • SEANNA BROWN — CHAIR
  • SHAUN LEONARDO — DIRECTOR
relationships · 1

Who they work with

  • Artshack Lab Partner — Hosts workshops for BIPOC educators and serves as a space for creative exchange and learning.
strategies · 5

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.

  • Anti-Racist and Queer-Affirming Arts Community
    methodology: anti-racist_and_queer_affirming_practice
    By centering anti-racism and queer affirmation as foundational practices, we create inclusive, safe spaces for creative expression because structural equity enables marginalized individuals to participate fully and authentically.
  • Art-Based Empowerment Through Ceramics
    methodology: arts-based_empowerment
    By using ceramics as a medium, we foster creativity, self-respect, and personal empowerment because the tactile and expressive nature of clay supports identity development and emotional resilience.
  • Flexible and Continuous Access Studio Model
    methodology: flexible_access_model
    By offering extended-hour open studio access and recurring bi-monthly programming, we sustain long-term engagement in ceramic arts because flexible, continuous access removes temporal barriers and supports self-directed creative development.
  • Process-Oriented Art Education Model
    methodology: process-oriented_art_education
    By emphasizing experiential learning and the creative process over finished products, we promote exploration, experimentation, and personal growth because focusing on process reduces performance pressure and increases engagement across skill levels.
  • Structured Progression in Artistic Development
    methodology: incremental_skill_development
    By encouraging repetition of beginner classes and using critiques to guide advanced students, we support incremental skill development and personal artistic growth because mastery and confidence are built through iterative practice and reflective feedback.