named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Arts Education
Classes and workshops for all ages in disciplines such as piano, ceramics, fashion design, and digital arts, offered in partnership with schools and senior centers through the CASA/SU CASA program.
Jamaica Performing Arts Center (JPAC)
State-of-the-art 400-seat theater in a restored historic church, hosting performances, film screenings, and community events, serving as a venue for major programs like Thursday Night Jazz.
Performing Arts
Programs including Thursday Night Jazz, Riddim Section, Making Moves Dance Festival, and A Weekend of West African Dance, offering performances in music, dance, theater, and poetry, most priced at $10 or less or free.
Visual Arts
Annual exhibitions and initiatives like Visual Voices, Jamaica Flux, and ARTWorks that support local visual artists through exhibition opportunities, workspace access, and professional development.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Artist Marketplace Operations 1 activity
- Creates economic opportunities for local artists and small businessesProvides vendor opportunities for local artisans and small businesses to participate in JCAL-hosted events, supporting economic inclusion and community engagement in cultural programming.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Hosts multidisciplinary performing arts programsProduces and hosts year-round performing arts programs including the Thursday Night Jazz series (October–May), Riddim Section concerts (February–June), Making Moves Dance Festival, West African dance weekends, public staged readings of new plays, and outdoor theater such as Shakespeare in the Park. Most events are offered free or for no more than $10.
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Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Offers arts education and youth/senior engagement programsProvides arts education classes in piano, ceramics, fashion design, and other disciplines, and partners with public schools and senior centers via the CASA/SU CASA program. Offers free and low-cost classes, performances, and workshops to students and seniors (62+) residing or working in 114 ZIP codes.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Organizes annual cultural festivals and community celebrationsProduces major annual festivals including the Downtown Jamaica Riddim & Jazz Festival, summer music festival, Pride Month celebrations, Juneteenth events, and a Women’s History Month poetry and storytelling evening. These events take place in public spaces like King Manor Park and Rufus King Park and feature local, regional, and emerging artists.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Provides accessible visual arts exhibitions and programmingMounts annual visual arts exhibitions through programs such as Visual Voices, Jamaica Flux, and ARTWorks, featuring BIIPOC and local Queens artists. Hosts exhibitions at multiple locations including the Red Wall Gallery at Resorts World New York City and Terminal 6 at JFK Airport, with some reaching an estimated 10,000 visitors daily.
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New Play Development Programs 1 activity
- Supports early-career playwrights through lab programRuns the MTP Lab program offering $2,400 stipends and up to 100 hours of free rehearsal space to early-career playwrights, culminating in monthly staged readings of new works from February to May, followed by audience Q&A and receptions.
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 1 activity
- Supports emerging curators through paid residencies and mentorshipProvides a three-year paid residency and mentorship program for six emerging curators, supporting each to produce at least three exhibitions exploring BIIPOC experiences, with full implementation and publication. Each curator receives $4,000 per exhibition.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$2.54M
Contributions & grants$2.02M79%
Program service revenue$91K4%
Investment income$21K1%
Other revenue$413K
expenses
Total expenses$2.83M
Program expenses71%
Admin / overhead18%
Fundraising11%
Salaries & benefits$1.57M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$8.26M
Cash$872K
Investments$0
Liabilities$194K
Net assets$8.06M
Liquid reserves3.7 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue -28.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEONARD JACOBS | EXECUTIVE DIR. | 40 | $130K |
board members · 14
- DAVID FARRELL — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID THOMAS — CHAIRMAN
- DEBORAH ROJAS DE LEON — BOARD MEMBER
- HANNAH RUBASHKIN — BOARD MEMBER
- JESSICA GARCIA — BOARD MEMBER
- JULIA DEL PALACIO — BOARD MEMBER
- LISA KIRKLAND — BOARD MEMBER
- LORRAINE CHAMBERS LEWIS — GOVERNANCE
- MAHESH CHAUBE — SECRETARY
- MICHELLE STODDART — BOARD MEMBER
- PETER GRISAFI — TREASURER
- RACHID MURAD — VICE CHAIR
- REV CARLA HUNTER RAMSEY — BOARD MEMBER
- TYQUANA HENDERSON RIVERS — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 43
Who they work with
- Altman Foundation Funder — Provider of operating support
- Altman Foundation Funder — Provides operating support
- Altman Foundation Funder — Provides operating support to JCAL.
- Altman Foundation Funder — Provides operating support.
- Barrington Brissett Partner — Recurring contributor and event organizer involved in promoting and managing JCAL events.
- Dr. Margarita Lila Rosa Partner — Curator of the exhibition "Under A Plantain Tree: Notes on Liberation."
- Greater Jamaica Development Corporation Partner — Collaborates on the Greater Nexus project as part of JCAL's expanded program offerings.
- Greater Jamaica Development Corporation Partner — Original founding partner that appropriated the building and initiated the restoration of the Jamaica Arts Center in the late 1960s.
- Harkness Foundation for Dance Funder — Supports the Making Moves Dance Festival.
- Howard Gilman Foundation Funder — Provider of operating support
- Howard Gilman Foundation Funder — Provides operating support
- Howard Gilman Foundation Funder — Provides operating support to JCAL.
- Howard Gilman Foundation Funder — Provides operating support.
- John F. Kennedy International Airport Partner — Provides space at Terminal 6 for JCAL's partner arts projects.
- MacMillan Foundation Funder — Provider of operating support
- MacMillan Foundation Funder — Provides operating support
- MacMillan Foundation Funder — Provides operating support to JCAL.
- MacMillan Foundation Funder — Provides operating support.
- Matisse Foundation Funder — Provider of operating support
- Matisse Foundation Funder — Provides operating support
- Matisse Foundation Funder — Provides operating support to JCAL.
- Matisse Foundation Funder — Provides operating support.
- Mellon Foundation Funder — Provider of operating support
- Mellon Foundation Funder — Provides operating support
- Mellon Foundation Funder — Provides operating support to JCAL.
- Mellon Foundation Funder — Provides operating support.
- NY City Council Member Nantasha Williams Government — Provides public support for JCAL programs.
- NY City Council Member Nantasha Williams Government — Provides public support for Visual Voices exhibitions.
- NY City Council Member Nantasha Williams Government — Provides public support through the Council’s Cultural Immigrant Initiative.
- NY City Council Member Nantasha Williams Government — Public funder through the Council’s Cultural Immigrant Initiative
+ 13 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.
- Cohort-Based Artist Development with Dual Mentorshipmethodology: cohort_based_residency_with_mentorshipBy supporting early-career playwrights through long-term, cohort-based residencies with dual mentorship in writing and production, the organization increases artistic retention and professional success because sustained peer and expert guidance builds both craft and industry access.
- Community-Engaged Arts Programmingmethodology: community-engaged_arts_programmingBy using paid artist residencies, free public events, and partnerships with schools and senior centers, the organization fosters pride, belonging, and creative expression across diverse age groups and communities because sustained, accessible engagement strengthens community ties and empowers underrepresented voices.
- Culturally Rooted and Inclusive Artistic Platformingmethodology: cultural_inclusion_through_artistic_platformingBy curating music, dance, and exhibitions that reflect African, Caribbean, Latin American, and BIIPOC cultural traditions, the organization deepens cultural connection and inclusion because artistic representation rooted in heritage fosters identity affirmation, intergenerational continuity, and broad audience engagement.
- Multidimensional Accessibility and Geographic Prioritizationmethodology: multidimensional_accessibilityBy prioritizing artists from Southeast Queens and integrating physical, emotional, conceptual, and spiritual access into programming, the organization ensures equitable participation because localized investment and holistic accessibility remove systemic barriers to engagement for historically marginalized communities.