Our Community Space Program is Expanding!

 


BECHDEL PROJECT RECEIVES $10,000 CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT FUND GRANT FROM NYC DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS


Public support will fund a minimum of 1500 hours of free studio space for the community, for rehearsals, film shoots, workshops, performances, presentations, and community gatherings. The “Coffee’s On Us,” third space pop up series offers amenities like WiFi, refreshments, and family-friendly facilities while also providing essential support with menstrual products, a food pantry, and library. All access is free.

Bechdel Project has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the City of New York as part of a historic $59.3 million investment in the Cultural Development Fund (CDF) through the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. The grant will support Bechdel Project’s Free Community Space Program, including the launch of “Coffee’s On Us”, a new monthly pop-up designed to build community and reduce barriers to connection for artists and neighbors in North Brooklyn.



“Coffee’s On Us” invites the public to gather for free coffee, tea, snacks, WiFi, and community resources in a warm, welcoming studio environment. The pop-up is part of Bechdel Project’s year-long effort to provide 1,500 hours of no-cost studio access and host 30+ free events, prioritizing support for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, and caregiving artists. RSVP HERE!

“This grant allows us to keep our doors open — literally and figuratively — to hundreds of artists and neighbors who need a place to gather, work, or simply rest. We’re honored to be recognized as part of this historic investment in New York City’s cultural life,” said Bechdel Project Co-Creative Directors Maria Aparo and Jens Rasmussen.

Bechdel Project is one of 1,078 cultural organizations across all five boroughs to receive CDF support this year. Funding from the NYC Mayor’s Office and City Council makes this the largest-ever CDF allocation, representing a deep commitment to arts, equity, and recovery.

“To make New York City the best place to raise a family, we need good-paying jobs and vibrant cultural organizations; these grants will help us support both by bolstering our museums, music venues, and much more,” said Mayor Eric Adams.

“Simply put, there is no New York City without the cultural sector that strengthens our communities, drives our economy, and makes us the creative capital of the world,” said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “Congratulations to all of this year’s CDF recipients!”

The FY25 CDF awards include $51.9 million from the Mayor’s Office and $7.4 million from the NYC Council. This year's grants include new investments in language access, support for vulnerable communities, and funding to increase equity in the arts sector. Learn more and find a full list of this year's CDF grantees in the City's official press release.

Popular posts from this blog

We Can't Support Women and Apartheid at the Same Time

Image
We, Bechdel Project , as an arts organization committed to gender equity and guided by intersectional feminist principles, endorse the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) call and affirm our support for and commitment to the growing international movement for Palestinian rights and for justice, equality, and freedom for all. Bechdel Project believes that stories don’t just reflect our culture - they shape our culture, challenge oppressive systems, and imagine a more just world. Through our work, we support feminist storytellers whose narratives illuminate lived experiences and expose the ways systemic oppression, particularly against women, is deeply entrenched in societies worldwide. Women, especially those from marginalized communities, disproportionately bear the burden of systemic violence, economic injustice, and state-sanctioned repression. From gender-based violence to economic disenfranchisement, from displacement to the suppression of ...
Read more

Advocacy & Action Both Big and Small

Image
How did we get so lucky (sarcasm) to be making art during the rise of fascism and the collapse of safety nets globally?! It's overwhelming. It's scary. It's very real. I won't spend much time on this newsletter telling you things that you're already doom scrolling, because that's not helpful. Our hope is to provide some relief, by simply sharing the tangible actions we at Bechdel Project (and within our own families) are doing to create/find support, build resilience, and fight for a better future. Join us in any or all of these, or heck, use it as inspiration to find your own ways through. Just be sure to share your action ideas with us too! In love and solidarity, Maria, Jens, & Lucy
Read more

Maria Aparo Joins Bechdel Project As Co-Creative Director

Image
  Maria brings a wealth of experience and a unique creative perspective to her new role. By: Chloe Rabinowitz  for Broadyway World Nov. 16, 2023 Bechdel Project a leading feminist arts incubator, has appointed of  Maria Aparo  as its Co-Creative Director. A distinguished multidisciplinary artist, producer, former sex worker, and activist, Maria brings a wealth of experience and a unique creative perspective to her new role A Fearless Trailblazer in the Arts Maria Aparo is no stranger to pushing boundaries. Her true passion lies in developing new works that question and subvert societal norms, while blurring the lines between art and life. Known for her audacious projects, including constructing a black box theater in the desert for  The Living Theater 's "No Place To Hide" at Burning Man, Maria's artistic journey has been marked by innovation. Her identity as a world-renowned "fetish queen," YouTube star and, sex worker's rights advocate, revolutionize...
Read more