activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Hosting arts programming for women and gender non-conforming artistsSupports the work of women and gender non-conforming contemporary artists through curated arts programming, including panel discussions, live performances, and collaborative exhibitions. Examples include hosting the "Mind Mapping: From Knowledge to Form" panel at Art Basel and co-hosting the "DIORAMAS BY SAHRA MOTALEBI" exhibition with Earth Gallery.
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Art Appreciation and Public Engagement 1 activity
- Promote artistic works for public appreciationPromotes artistic works for the general public through ongoing programming and outreach efforts.
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Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Providing youth arts education and mentorship programsRuns structured arts education initiatives for youth, including the Youth Workshop Series—two-hour sessions combining artist lectures and hands-on art-making led by women and non-binary artists for participants aged 6–18—and the New York Girls Writing Circle, which offers writing mentorship, studio visits, and college prep support for NYC-based girls and non-binary youth aged 14–18.
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Literary and Cultural Publishing 1 activity
- Publishing print and digital content through Topical CreamProduces and publishes creative writing and art-related content, including the launch of an inaugural print issue and publishing mentored works by emerging writers on Topical Cream. Also operates the New York Girls Writing Circle, a paid summer program that includes creative writing mentorship and results in a collaboratively produced zine.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$99K
Contributions & grants$99K100%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$107K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$16K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$28K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$28K
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -16.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 7
- GIA KUAN — Director
- JULIA TROTTA — Director
- MARCELLA ZIMMERMANN — Director
- RAQUE FORD — Director
- RUBA KATRIB — Director
- SETH STOLBUN — Director
- YULU SERAO — Director
relationships · 25
Who they work with
- Anonymous Was A Woman Funder — Supported by Susan Unterberg through Anonymous Was A Woman.
- Arison Arts Foundation Funder — Supported by the Arison Arts Foundation.
- Art Basel Partner — Collaborated with Art Basel to present a panel discussion at the Exchange Circle during the Art Basel event.
- Art Basel Partner — Collaborates on exhibitions and programming, including "Mind Mapping: From Knowledge to Form" and participation in Art Basel events in Hong Kong and Miami Beach.
- Camille Henrot Partner — Collaborates with artist Camille Henrot.
- Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council Government — Receives support from the Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
- Earth Gallery Partner — Co-hosted an event featuring Sahra Motalebi's meditative voicework.
- Earth Gallery Partner — Co-hosted the exhibition "DIORAMAS BY SAHRA MOTALEBI."
- Earth Gallery Partner — Co-hosted the live meditative voicework performance "D I O R A M A S" by Sahra Motalebi.
- Ebony L. Haynes Partner — Partners with Ebony L. Haynes of 52 Walker.
- Gia Kuan Partner — Works with Gia Kuan of Gia Kuan Consulting.
- Global Kids Partner — Partner organization in the New York Girls Writing Circle program.
- Julia Trotta Partner — Collaborates with Julia Trotta of Artists and Mothers.
- Lyndsy Welgos Partner — Curated the "D I O R A M A S" performance as Executive Director of Topical Cream.
- New York City Department of Youth and Cultural Development Government — Partner in the New York Girls Writing Circle through the SYEP program.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Public funder supporting Topical Cream's programs and operations
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
- Raque Ford Partner — Collaborates with artist Raque Ford.
- Recess/Assembly Partner — Collaborated with Topical Cream to develop the Art Writing Mentorship Program.
- Ruba Katrib Partner — Partners with Ruba Katrib of MoMA PS1.
- Someday Gallery Partner — Partner organization in the New York Girls Writing Circle program.
- Stardust Fund Funder — Supported by Molly Gochman through the Stardust Fund.
- The Stolbun Foundation Funder — Receives support from The Stolbun Foundation.
- Yulu Serao Partner — Collaborates with Yulu Serao of Lipman Studio.
- shop.topicalcream.org Partner — Online shop platform supporting Topical Cream's publications and merchandise.
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.
- Accessibility Through Financial Barrier Removal 150 orgsmethodology: accessibility-through-cost-removalBy offering free attendance and providing all materials for youth and caregivers, the organization increases equitable access to the arts because removing cost constraints enables participation from communities facing systemic exclusion.shared approach: Equitable Access Through Barrier Reduction →
- Artist Engagement as Transformative Educationmethodology: artist-engagementBy facilitating direct engagement between emerging writers and artists, the organization enables transformative learning because proximity to practicing artists expands participants’ creative identity and agency, especially for those facing systemic barriers.
- Collective Deep Listening as Relational Practicemethodology: collective deep listeningBy using meditative voicework and shared stillness, the organization transforms individual introspection into collective emotional attunement because communal presence fosters expanded perception and relational imagination beyond individual experience.
- Gender Equity in Arts Programmingmethodology: gender-equity-in-artsBy centering the work of women and gender non-conforming artists, the organization advances gender equity in the arts because representation disrupts systemic exclusion and redefines whose voices are valued in artistic spaces.
- Research as Embodied Artistic Practicemethodology: research-as-artistic-practiceBy treating research and information gathering as an artistic medium integrated with memory and lived experience, the organization challenges detached knowledge production because embodied practice grounds understanding in personal and collective history.