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NARS FOUNDATION INC
Brooklyn, NY · EIN 205292405 · Form 990 · FY2025 · NTEE A20 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · narsfoundation.org
revenue
$371K
expenses
$395K
net assets
$93K
employees
4
program ratio
75%
mission · from form 990

SUPPORTING ARTISTS AND CURATORS ON AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL AS WELL ENGAGING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN BROOKLYN AND THE GREATER NEW YORK AREA. NARS PROVIDES AN ARRAY OF CREATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMERGING AND MID-CAREERBROOKLYN AND NY.

profile · synthesized from sources

NARS Foundation is a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that supports emerging and mid-career artists and curators through residency programs, exhibitions, and professional development opportunities. It operates locally in New York City while engaging international artistic exchange. The organization runs community-focused initiatives such as free animation workshops for youth and partners with public institutions like the Brooklyn Public Library to expand access to the arts.

named programs · 8 · from sources

What they call their work

Artist Salon
Peer-organized series of artist talks, presentations, and studio visits to foster dialogue and professional development among NARS artists
Emerging Curator Exhibition Program
Past program offering emerging curators the opportunity to organize group exhibitions at the NARS Foundation Gallery with staff support
Governors Island Satellite Curatorial Fellowship
Curatorial fellowship for emerging NY-based curators to develop and present an exhibition in collaboration with satellite residents
Governors Island Satellite Exhibition Program
Opportunity for NY-based collectives or individuals to organize conceptually cohesive group shows on Governors Island with site-specific focus
Governors Island Satellite Residency Program
Summer-Fall residency program on Governors Island for New York-based artists, offering workspace and integration into a vibrant artistic community
Juried Solo Exhibition Program
Past program that provided gallery space and curatorial support for emerging and underrepresented national and international artists
Studio Relief Residency
Subsidized three-month studio program for New York-based artists impacted by the pandemic, providing 24/7 access to workspace and community engagement
The Magic of Moving Pictures
Free animation workshop series for children ages 6–14 at Sunset Park Public Library, teaching animation techniques through hands-on activities
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Art Appreciation and Public Engagement 3 activities
    • Community outreach for underserved populations
      Conducts community outreach initiatives to increase access to contemporary art among underserved populations in South Brooklyn through inclusive programming and partnerships.
    • Public engagement and open studio events
      Opens artist studios to the public twice annually and participates in the Sunset Park Open Studios event each fall, enabling direct interaction between the public and resident artists. These events promote transparency and dialogue around artistic processes.
    • Public program series and community events
      Hosts a public program series featuring free artist talks, screenings, workshops, panel discussions, performances, and peer-led salons to foster community engagement and intellectual exchange around contemporary art.
  • Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 2 activities
    • Artist and curator residency programs
      Offers short-term integrated residency programs for emerging and mid-career artists and curators, including international participants, with local engagement in Brooklyn and the greater New York area. Provides studio space, professional development opportunities, and 24/7 access during residencies.
    • Satellite residency program on Governors Island
      Operated a satellite residency program on Governors Island during summer-fall seasons from 2020 to 2022, hosting New York-based artists and collectives for 3-month residencies and supporting curatorial fellowships that resulted in collaborative exhibitions.
  • Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
    • Educational arts programs for youth
      Develops and delivers hands-on educational arts programs for children and families in South Brooklyn, in collaboration with local schools, libraries, and organizations. Includes a free animation workshop series teaching techniques like thaumatropes, flipbooks, and stop-motion, with all materials provided at no cost.
  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
    • Exhibition programming for resident and alumni artists
      Hosts exhibitions featuring work by current and former artists-in-residence, including solo and group shows such as "Toward a Sentence" and "Shifting /\\ Gazes," with opening receptions and curatorial support. Also presents juried solo exhibitions and group exhibitions curated by emerging curators.
  • Arts and Cultural Workforce Training 1 activity
    • Intern and volunteer engagement
      Engages interns and volunteers to support core operations including artist residencies, exhibitions, and educational programs. Provides interns with a monthly $200 honorarium and hands-on experience in arts administration.
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$371K
Contributions & grants$177K48%
Program service revenue$194K52%
Investment income$30%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$395K
Program expenses75%
Admin / overhead25%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$170K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$97K
Cash$73K
Investments$0
Liabilities$4K
Net assets$93K
Liquid reserves2.2 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +4.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
JUNHO LEE FOUNDING DIRECTOR 40 $67K
board members · 5
  • CHONGHUN DANIEL SONG — DIRECTOR
  • ED RUBIN — DIRECTOR
  • NICHOLAS TOURON — SECRETARY
  • SYLVIA SOYEON KIM — DIRECTOR
  • THOMAS ARNOLD — CHAIR
relationships · 29

Who they work with

  • 440 Gallery Partner — Collaborated through a visit by Pam Wong, director of 440 Gallery, to engage with NARS artists-in-residence.
  • Alexa Avilés Government — City Council Member providing public funding support for NARS public programs
  • Artis Partner — Residency partner of NARS Foundation, collaborating on artist residency programs.
  • Brooklyn Public Library – Sunset Park Branch Partner — Co-hosts the Animation Workshop series with NARS Foundation at the library location.
  • Christine Chen Partner — Curatorial Fellow at NARS Foundation
  • City Council Government — Partnered with the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in supporting NARS Foundation programs.
  • City Council Government — Partnered with the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs to support NARS programs
  • City Council Member Alexa Avilés Government — Provides public funding support for NARS Foundation public programs.
  • City Council for District 38 Funder — Provides financial support for the Animation Workshop series.
  • Con Edison Funder — Provides financial support for the Animation Workshop series.
  • Con Edison Funder — Supports NARS Foundation's outreach programs through funding.
  • Con Edison, inc. Partner — Supports NARS Foundation programs through funding or sponsorship.
  • Council Member Alexa Avilés Government — Supports NARS Foundation's outreach programs through funding.
  • Facebook Network — Has an organizational presence on Facebook under NARSresidency.
  • Instagram Network — Has an organizational presence on Instagram under @narsfoundation.
  • Material for the Arts Funder — Provides material or financial support for the Animation Workshop series.
  • Material for the Arts Partner — Supports NARS Foundation's outreach programs, likely through material donations or in-kind support.
  • Materials for the Arts Partner — Continued partnership supporting NARS programs
  • Materials for the Arts Partner — Maintains a continued partnership with NARS Foundation, likely providing materials or resources.
  • National Endowment for the Arts Funder — Provided financial support for past programs
  • New York City Cultural Affairs Government — Supports NARS Foundation's outreach programs through funding.
  • New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provided public funding for programs in partnership with the City Council
  • New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provides public funding support for NARS Foundation programs in partnership with the City Council.
  • New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provides public funding support for NARS Foundation public programs.
  • New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Public funder supporting NARS public programs
  • New York State Council on the Arts Funder — Provided financial support for past programs with backing from the Office of the Governor and New York State Legislature
  • Sunset Park Wide Open Partner — Collaborates with NARS Foundation to organize the annual Sunset Park Open Studios event.
  • Tina Lam Partner — Collaborates with alum artist Tina Lam on solo exhibition.
  • hr@narsfoundation.org Government — Primary contact for internship and volunteer applications
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.

  • Cross-Cultural Dialogue via Community Exchange
    methodology: cross_pollination_of_ideas
    By creating platforms for exchange among artists, communities, and interns, the organization stimulates innovation and collective reflection because diverse interactions generate new ideas and strengthen cultural connectivity.
  • Emerging Curator Support through Inclusive Mentorship
    methodology: mentorship_without_prerequisites
    By offering mentorship and fellowship opportunities to emerging curators without prerequisites, the organization lowers barriers to entry and develops new leadership in the arts because accessible guidance fosters professional growth regardless of background or prior experience.
  • Integrated Artist Residency with Public Engagement
    methodology: integrated_artist_residency
    By combining artist residencies with public access, dialogue forums, and exposure to creative processes, the organization fosters deeper understanding of contemporary art and strengthens community-artistic connections because ongoing interaction increases relevance and accessibility of artistic practice.
  • Youth Development through Hands-on Arts Education
    methodology: arts-education-for-youth-development
    By engaging youth in direct, hands-on visual arts and animation experiences, the organization promotes cognitive, emotional, and social development because active creative participation builds confidence, curiosity, and collaborative skills in young people.