Art-Access as Engagement

Advocates for balanced management of Forest Hills Stadium that supports neighborhood vibrancy and economic benefits, including community celebration of the stadium’s 100th anniversary.

Raises community concerns regarding public safety and law enforcement responsiveness related to stadium events, resulting in acknowledgment from the NYPD.

Advocates for reasonable limits on concerts at Forest Hills Stadium to address community concerns about noise, traffic, trash, and parking, while seeking to preserve neighborhood quality of life and residential tranquility.

Organizes residents through petitions, public meetings, and outreach efforts, including circulating a petition signed by over 700 residents and facilitating 63 public speakers at a Community Board 6 meeting to voice concerns about Forest Hills Stadium operations.

Monitors and documents noise levels and violations during concerts at Forest Hills Stadium, including submitting resident complaints to the city’s 311 system and recording evidence such as photos and videos of disturbances; reported nine noise violations in 2025 and specifically documented violations during the All Things Go music festival.

Files federal lawsuits challenging city actions related to Forest Hills Stadium concerts, including an alleged unconstitutional takeover of private streets and the NYPD’s use of private streets during events, as well as contesting permit approvals through formal letters and legal claims.

Presents three concerts per year as part of an ongoing series that has continued since 2006, with exceptions due to pandemic-related interruptions.

Advocates for formalized structures and increased philanthropic investment in the long-term care of artists’ legacies, promoting ethical and sustainable models for artist estate management.

Supports a network of over 400 members—including estates, foundations, and individual artists—through the Artist’s Foundation & Estate Leaders’ List (AFELL), which it launched and now manages to ensure organizational growth and sustainability. Facilitates knowledge sharing via quarterly Zoom sessions hosted by members.

Is certified by W.A.G.E. (Working Artists and the Greater Economy) for meeting standards of ethical payment practices in its operations, reflecting a commitment to fair compensation in the arts.

Runs a two-year residency program that supports under-resourced artist estates through research, archiving, digitization, exhibitions, and public programming, including two four- to six-week exhibitions per resident: a group show with contemporary artists and a solo show. The program includes residents such as Susan Brockman, Cat Gardère, and the upcoming residency for the Sheyla Baykal archive (2025–2027), and operates within shared workspace and active storage facilities.

Curates and presents solo and group exhibitions featuring the work and archives of underrecognized historical artists, including Sheyla Baykal (multiple exhibitions highlighting her photographs and queer community), Paul Gardère (solo exhibition and art fair booth at Independent 20th Century), and Susan Brockman. Also organizes public programs such as panel discussions on portraiture, community, and memory, particularly around artists like Shirley Gorelick.

Offers professional archival services including cataloging, storage, digitization, and exhibition planning to external artist estates and foundations such as the Stan VanDerBeek Archive, Rosemary Mayer Estate, and Shirley Gorelick Foundation on a fee-for-service basis.

Produces publications that document and contextualize artists’ archives, including a 112-page book on Susan Brockman’s archive combining scholarly and personal contributions, and supports the dissemination of archival materials through printed and digital formats.

Provides guidance and resources to artists and their heirs to help preserve and secure the future of artistic work, including through legacy planning and archival infrastructure.

Organizes CHAMPS, an informal group that creates opportunities for amateur musicians in the Central New York community to play chamber music together.

Provides performance opportunities for local professional and youth musicians by hosting free pre-concert events, such as the CASEY Wind Quintet performance prior to a Salix Piano Trio concert and performances by the Meridian String Quartet for the Board of Directors.

Provides free tickets to current students and EBT/SNAP holders with valid ID for its subscription concert series, increasing accessibility to chamber music performances.