named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
ArtSpeak/From Page to Performance
Monthly creative writing workshops for new and emerging writers, facilitated by the Yonkers Poet Laureate and held in person and via Zoom
Blue Door Arts Center @ Beczak
Collaborative writing and art workshops held at the Beczak Environmental Education Center, integrating nature themes with creative expression for all ages
Children’s Art Workshop
Weekly art workshops for children ages 5–12, including those with special needs; held at the Blue Door Art Center and partner locations
Community Writing Project Journal (CWPJ)
Publishing initiative featuring works by international artists and poets; produced and distributed by BDAC
Make W.A.A.V.E.S
Summer writing and art workshop series focused on activism, empowerment, and values for youth and community members
Playdates with Po’Jazz
Monthly poetry and jazz performance series featuring live improvisation, guest artists, and audience participation with music and poetry jam
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Community Art Education Workshops 3 activities
- Conducts offsite art programming at community locationsProvides art programming at external sites such as the Beczak Environmental Education Center on select Saturdays at 11:00 AM, expanding access to arts education in Westchester County.
- Hosts regular children's art workshopsOffers weekly art workshops for children ages 5 to 12, including special needs participants, led by teaching artists. Workshops are held on Saturdays at 10:00 AM at the Blue Door Art Center location in Yonkers.
- Offers writing and art workshops for all agesProvides interdisciplinary writing and art workshops exploring themes like emotional expression and nature, using techniques such as wax resist watercolor. Programs are open to all ages and include seasonal series such as those inspired by the Hudson River.
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Performing Arts Production Support 1 activity
- Funds arts events through grantmaking and donor-sponsored projectsProvides grants to support concerts, exhibitions, and plays in Westchester County, and accepts designated donations to fund specific projects, acknowledging donors as sponsors.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Hosts community poetry and jazz eventsOrganizes monthly open mic events and community performance events on the fourth Sunday of each month, including poetry and jazz programming, to engage local artists and community members.
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Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Organizes curated art exhibitionsHosts curated exhibitions for artists and student members, including themed exhibitions such as "Cake" and "Red, White, Blue and You," and holds annual members-only exhibitions and opening receptions with public engagement components.
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Professional Membership and Association Benefits 1 activity
- Provides discounted programming for membersOffers discounted art workshops and special access to events for artist and student members as part of a membership model to increase program accessibility.
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Artist and Curatorial Publications 1 activity
- Supports artists through promotion and publicationAdvances the work of regional artists by curating exhibitions, maintaining online portfolios, publishing journals and catalogs such as *Hello Hudson*, and producing publications featuring text and art by international contributors.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$163K
Contributions & grants$136K83%
Program service revenue$12K8%
Investment income$70%
Other revenue$12K
expenses
Total expenses$188K
Program expenses60%
Admin / overhead31%
Fundraising8%
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$41K
Cash$59K
Investments$0
Liabilities$6K
Net assets$34K
Liquid reserves3.8 mo
4 years on record · 2021–2024 · YoY revenue -26.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 8
- CYNTHIA KATORI WALKER — BOARD MEMBER
- GOLDA SOLOMON — DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH PROGRAM
- JOE CORBALIS — BOARD MEMBER
- JULIE COUSENS — CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- KEVIN SUTTLEHAN — BOARD MEMBER
- LUIS PERELMAN — CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CO-FOUNDER, TREASURER
- PHYLISHA VILLANUEVA — BOARD MEMBER
- ROBERT GIBBONS — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 17
Who they work with
- ArtsWestchester Funder — Grantee of ArtsWestchester, with funding made possible by Westchester County Government.
- ArtsWestchester Network — ArtsWestchester supports the Blue Door Art Center's programming.
- ArtsWestchester Partner — Collaborates on arts programming and services in Westchester County.
- Beczak Educational & Environmental Center Partner — Co-hosted a summer 2023 workshop series focused on the Hudson River.
- Beczak Environmental Education Center Partner — Co-hosts a writing and art workshop with Blue Door Arts Center.
- Beczak Environmental Education Center Partner — Co-hosts art and writing workshops with Blue Door Art Center.
- Beczak Environmental Education Center Partner — Collaborates to host art programming at the environmental education center.
- Beczak Environmental Education Center Partner — Hosts joint programming with Blue Door Art Center
- City of Yonkers Government — Supports cultural and educational programming in Yonkers, including collaboration with Blue Door Art Center.
- New York State Council on the Arts Funder — Provides funding support to Blue Door Art Center.
- Picasso Sponsor Memberships Funder — Donors contributing $100 or more receive sponsor recognition and may designate funding to specific BDAC projects.
- Poets & Writers Funder — Partial funder of creative writing workshops and community outreach events.
- Poets & Writers Funder — Partially funded the Poet Laureate Community Outreach Series event.
- Poets & Writers Funder — Provides financial support for literary programs and events at Blue Door Art Center.
- Rockefeller Brothers Fund Funder — Provides grantmaking support to Blue Door Art Center.
- Westchester County Government Government — Provides support for the Blue Door Art Center's programming.
- Westhab Partner — Partners on community development and arts integration initiatives.
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 Civic and Emotional Expressionmethodology: civic-engagement-through-artBy integrating art with civic themes and emotional exploration, the center fosters public reflection and personal development because creative engagement enables deeper processing of social and internal experiences.
- Equity-Centered Access and Inclusionmethodology: equity-focused arts fundingBy prioritizing underserved communities, special needs inclusion, and transit-accessible locations, the center increases equitable participation in the arts because removing structural and social barriers enables broader community engagement.
- Interdisciplinary Creative Activationmethodology: interdisciplinary-art-performanceBy combining poetry, jazz, writing, and visual art into live performance and workshop formats, the center deepens engagement because cross-medium experimentation fosters innovation and sustained participant involvement.