named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Flat Brush Chisel Writing with Jon Bocksel
Two-day workshop on flat brush writing techniques including chisel stroke fundamentals, historical context, and layout skills, taught by sign painter Jon Bocksel
Intro to Commercial Sign Painting with Veronika Skilte
Two-day intensive on traditional commercial sign painting using professional materials, covering brush techniques, enamel paints, pounce patterns, and sign creation on aluminum
Introduction to Sign Painting with Letterboy
Beginner-friendly two-day workshop teaching foundational sign painting skills including letterform construction, brush handling, and hand-drawn layouts with Tokyo-based artist Peter Liedberg
Lettering for Posters with Marte
Two-day workshop teaching hand-drawn lettering techniques inspired by music and motion, digital workflow integration, and poster composition, led by illustrator Martina Galarza
Rapid Lettering with Ged Palmer
Two-day workshop on "Script and Casual" signwriting styles focusing on brush control, alphabet construction, speed techniques, and sign design in a working shop environment
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Guided Historic Site Tours 1 activity
- Guided public tours of the museum collectionOffers regular guided tours of its collection every Friday at 2pm and every other Sunday at 1pm and 3pm, each lasting approximately one hour, to educate the public about the history of signage and advertising in New York City.
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Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Hands-on sign-making workshops with community scholarshipsHosts recurring two-day and multi-day workshops in traditional sign-making techniques such as brush work, lettering, flat brush chisel writing, and hand-drawn poster lettering, led by professional sign painters. Each workshop includes scholarship seats prioritizing residents from the East New York/Brownsville neighborhood and individuals facing financial barriers.
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Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
- Preservation and collection of historic signageAcquires, rescues, and preserves historically significant signs and advertising artifacts from New York City and the tri-state area through de-installation, repair, and collection efforts. The organization also digitizes and documents collected materials to support long-term archival and public access.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$113K
Contributions & grants$22K19%
Program service revenue$91K81%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$101K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$20K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$20K
1 years on record · 2025–2025
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 3
- David Barnett — Trustee
- Janine Biunno — Trustee
- John Pohanka — Trustee
relationships · 19
Who they work with
- Ged Palmer Partner — Guest instructor leading a rapid lettering workshop at the museum.
- Hand Signs Partner — Collaborates with Jon Bocksel of Hand Signs to lead a workshop on flat brush chisel writing.
- Kelly Adelia Partner — Founding Member donor to the museum
- Lauren Wolven Partner — Founding Member donor to the museum
- Letterboy (Peter Liedberg) Partner — Collaborates as lead instructor for the sign painting workshop.
- Lynn Feasley and Adam Blumenthal Bessire Family Partner — Founding Member donor to the museum
- Martina Galarza Partner — Leads the "Lettering for Posters" workshop as an instructor and collaborator.
- NYT Cooking Partner — Collaborated on the feature "City of Signs" highlighting New York City's sign culture.
- Noble Signs Partner — Hosts the New York Sign Museum in its working design studio and workshop space.
- Noble Signs Partner — Hosts the New York Sign Museum within its working design studio and workshop space.
- Noble Signs Partner — Provides branding & design support and partners in deinstallation of signage.
- Noble Signs Partner — Shares physical space within the Noble Signs workshop in Brooklyn.
- Noble Signs Partner — Strategic partner that hosts the museum's workshops in its active fabrication studio.
- Noble Signs Inc. Partner — Partners with NYSM in the deinstallation of accessioned signage.
- Peggy and Alan Barnett Partner — Preservationist donor to the museum
- RONAN Paints Partner — Supplies enamel paints for use in the sign painting workshop.
- Secret Riso Club Partner — Collaborates on printed poster critique and workshop programming.
- The Pohanka Family Foundation Funder — Founding sponsor of the New York Sign Museum.
- Zan Gilani Partner — Founding Member donor to the museum
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.
- Community-Accessible Workforce Development 150 orgsmethodology: community_accessible_workforce_developmentBy offering scholarship seats in every workshop, the organization ensures that traditional sign-making skills are accessible to local residents, supporting workforce development and community engagement through equitable access to craft training.shared approach: Equitable Access Through Barrier Reduction →
- Community-Collaborative Preservation 55 orgsmethodology: community_collaborative_preservationBy engaging a multidisciplinary network of historians, designers, artists, and preservationists, the organization protects New York City's vernacular sign aesthetic through collective stewardship, leveraging diverse expertise to sustain cultural heritage.shared approach: Cultural Preservation Through Artistic Practice →
- Hands-On Heritage Education with Living Craft Integration 55 orgsmethodology: hands_on_heritage_educationBy teaching traditional sign-making techniques in an active fabrication studio alongside historical artifacts, the organization connects New York's visual heritage with contemporary craft education, ensuring cultural continuity through experiential learning.shared approach: Cultural Preservation Through Artistic Practice →
- Community-Based Sign Rescue and Stewardshipmethodology: community_based_sign_rescueBy proactively securing signs through direct collaboration with business and property owners, the organization preserves at-risk artifacts as part of a broader effort to establish signage as a shared cultural inheritance under collective community stewardship.
- Expressive-Experiential Learning in Letteringmethodology: expressive-experiential_learningBy framing lettering as an expressive, emotional practice using music, rhythm, and movement, the organization fosters unconventional and personalized letterform development, deepening engagement beyond functional typography.