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ARETE LIVING ARTS FOUNDATION

Long Island City, NY · EIN 050552252 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A60 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Small ($100K-$1M) · aretelivingarts.org
revenue
$232K
expenses
$223K
net assets
$24K
employees
0
volunteers
17
program ratio
96%
mission · from form 990

To create and support arts that inspire personal, political, or spiritual awakening.

profile · synthesized from sources

Arete Living Arts Foundation creates and supports multidisciplinary art projects that aim to inspire personal, political, and spiritual awakening. Based in New York, the organization produces music, theater, dance, poetry, and multimedia performances, often with activist themes. It also provides fiscal sponsorship and career support to emerging artists from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $7K
    Music and multimedia performances
  2. #2 $783
    Film Projects
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

Fiscal Sponsorship Program
Provides emerging artists with 501c3 status eligibility, grant opportunity monitoring, proposal consulting, and career development support
Music and Multimedia Performances
Production of original music performances and recordings across genres including jazz, rock, classical, and experimental forms
Stargazer Restoration
Two-year, $200,000 project to restore a 50-foot public sculpture in Long Island, NY, designed by artist Linda Scott
Street Theatre Activism
Protest performance art pieces such as "Our Daily Bread" presented in public spaces like the New York Stock Exchange area
The Samsara Suites
Contemporary classical work combining string quartet, Moog synthesizer, and percussion, presented as ballet and released on CD and digital platforms
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Cultural Facility Development and Management 1 activity
    • Operating The Greenpoint Gallery as an artist incubator
      Operates The Greenpoint Gallery in New York as a space for emerging artists to exhibit work, teach classes, and develop professionally. The gallery hosts art exhibitions, performances, and educational programming, including classes taught by artists such as Shawn James.
  • Literary Events & Workshops 1 activity
    • Presenting poetry and spoken word events
      Hosts and presents poetry and spoken word performances at various venues including Downtime, The Stephen Gang Gallery, and The Heather Milburn Salon Space, featuring artists such as K-Rob, Nile Goddess, and Mo Beasley. The organization has produced poetry events since 1996 and releases recordings on CD and digital platforms.
  • Documentary Film Production 1 activity
    • Producing film and music video projects with social and cultural critique
      Produces music videos and documentary film projects that use satire and surreal imagery to critique mass media, prescription drug culture, and corporate influence. Notable works include the award-winning "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" music video and a two-day shoot on prescription drug addiction, with recordings and premieres in Pennsylvania and New York.
  • Experimental Circus and Immersive Theater Production 1 activity
    • Producing multimedia performances integrating theater, music, dance, and visual art
      Creates experimental theatrical and multimedia performances that combine scripted and improvised elements, incorporate audience interaction, and feature collaborations with choreographers, musicians, and visual artists. These include original productions such as "Struggle The Void," "The Samsara Suites," and "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!," presented at venues including The Living Theatre, TADA Theatre, and Sullivan Hall.
  • Artist Support Grants 1 activity
    • Providing fiscal sponsorship and grant support to emerging artists
      Offers fiscal sponsorship to emerging artists, enabling them to access grants and tax-deductible donations through Arete’s 501(c)(3) status. The foundation also monitors grant opportunities and provides consulting, feedback, and direct grant writing support to sponsored artists.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Conducting street theater performances with public engagement and social commentary
      Staged a street theater performance titled "Our Daily Bread" near the New York Stock Exchange, distributing satirical letters with loaves of bread to critique corporate materialism. The event generated public interaction, media attention, and a response from law enforcement, including bomb-sniffing dogs, and included photo opportunities with performers at the George Washington statue.
    • Organizing fashion shows featuring emerging designers
      Hosts fashion shows at venues such as Webster Hall, Downtime, and Maxwells, showcasing costumes and designs by emerging artists including Garo Sparo, Gaelyn, and Cianfarani. These events are integrated into broader performance productions.
    • Restoring and presenting large-scale public art installations
      Restored and publicly exhibited "The Stargazer," a 50-foot public sculpture in Long Island, NY, through a two-year, $200,000 project completed with a public ceremony. The work was rebuilt and maintained as a significant public art landmark.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$232K
Contributions & grants$16K7%
Program service revenue$216K93%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$223K
Program expenses96%
Admin / overhead2%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$160
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$24K
Cash$24K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$24K
Liquid reserves1.3 mo
4 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue +21.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Caeser Whiteman Executive Director 30 $160
board members · 3
  • Heather Milburn — Board President
  • Jackie Gardner — Treasurer
  • Kalina Rumbalski — Secretary
relationships · 22

Who they work with

  • Amy Patierno Partner — Collaborates as a choreographer and performer in Arete Living Arts Foundation performances
  • Chashama Gallery Partner — Hosted a performance by Tao Tones.
  • Facebook Network — Has a presence on Facebook to connect with supporters.
  • Facebook Network — Has a presence on Facebook to share information about its activities.
  • Facebook Partner — Has a Facebook page for outreach and engagement
  • Facebook Partner — Platform used for organizational outreach and engagement
  • Facebook Partner — Presence maintained on Facebook platform
  • Flag Art Foundation Partner — Donated $50,000 to the Stargazer Restoration Fund
  • Green Gables Partner — Venue for Caeser Pink's performance of "Struggle The Void."
  • Greenpoint Gallery Partner — Co-hosted an art exhibition and an art class.
  • Heather Bell Partner — Collaborates as a choreographer in Arete Living Arts Foundation performances
  • Instagram Network — Has a presence on Instagram to engage with the community.
  • Instagram Network — Has a presence on Instagram to share information about its activities.
  • Instagram Partner — Platform used for organizational outreach and engagement
  • Instagram Partner — Presence maintained on Instagram platform
  • Instagram Partner — Uses Instagram for outreach and engagement
  • Living Theatre Partner — Venue for the performance "Struggle The Void."
  • Manes Peace Prize Foundation Partner — Donated $100,000 to the Stargazer Restoration Fund
  • Materials For The Arts Partner — Supporter organization providing materials
  • Nitanny Office Supply Partner — Allowed use of its building for a music video shoot
  • Penn State University Partner — Graduate music students from its department participated in a recording session for The Samsara Suites
  • Techsoup.com Partner — Supporter providing technology resources
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 Catalyst for Social and Personal Transformation
    methodology: art-as-activism
    By using art as a medium for activism, education, and awakening, the organization fosters both personal transformation and social change because artistic expression can bypass rational defenses and evoke emotional and ideological shifts.
  • Artist Development through Integrated Support
    methodology: artist-development-through-fiscal-sponsorship
    By combining fiscal sponsorship with direct development support, the organization enables emerging artists to build sustainable careers, because financial infrastructure paired with mentorship accelerates artistic growth and professional resilience.
  • Interdisciplinary and Experimental Art Innovation
    methodology: interdisciplinary_performance
    By fusing contrasting artistic forms—such as Butoh and ballet, or music and multimedia—the organization creates novel performance experiences that challenge conventions and expand artistic boundaries, because hybrid forms generate unique expressive power and audience engagement.