You are reading

Pair of western Queens arts organizations receive $5 million in funding from borough president’s office

The leaders of two western Queens art organizations were presented with a $5 million check for capital funding on Tuesday, Feb. 22. (Photo by Paul Frangipane)

The leaders of two western Queens art organizations were presented with a $5 million check for capital funding on Tuesday, Feb. 22. (Photo by Paul Frangipane)

Feb. 22, 2023 By Michael Dorgan

The leaders of two western Queens art organizations were presented with a $5 million check for capital funding on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

The presentation was made by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, whose office allocated the funds to The Noguchi Museum, a gallery and sculpture garden located at 9-1 33rd Road in Astoria, and The Chocolate Factory Theater, a performative arts center located at 38-33 24th St. in Long Island City.

The Noguchi Museum was apportioned $3 million to preserve Isamu Noguchi’s former studio building, as well as the construction of a new collections lab and a study center at the museum.

Noguchi was a renowned Japanese-American artist and landscape architect who was known for his sculpture and public artworks. He established his studio in 1961 and lived there in the years before his death in 1988.

Meanwhile, The Chocolate Factory Theater was issued $2 million to renovate its current premises, situated in the Dutch Kills section of the neighborhood.

The presentation took place inside Noguchi’s former studio — across the road from the Noguchi Museum — where Richards handed over a large joint check to Brett Littman, the director of the Noguchi, and Sheila Lewandowski, the executive director of The Chocolate Factory Theater.

Richards said the funding would help strengthen the local arts community, and he encouraged all residents to visit the borough’s various cultural institutions.

“We shouldn’t have to leave our borough to visit the greatest cultural institutions, the greatest food scene and to be around some of the greatest people in the world,” Richards said. “Even at the height of this pandemic, culture never closed in our borough… these institutions kept our communities going.”

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards speaks at a press event at artist Isamu Noguchi’s former studio in Astoria on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023. (Photo by Paul Frangipane)

The presentation marked the first event of Richards’ week-long initiative called “Borough Hall on Your Block: Western Queen, during which he’s made funding announcements throughout the neighborhoods as well as taking part in public programming, town hall meetings, employment fairs, a senior services day and youth events.

Littman said that the funds being provided to the Noguchi Museum will help stabilize and preserve Noguchi’s former studio building. Once the work is completed, the studio will be open to the public for the first time, he said.

Furthermore, Noguchi’s artwork and archives will be kept in a newly constructed building next to the studio, he said.

“I think the impact of this cultural investment will be felt for decades to come,” Littman said.

The museum has also been allocated $1.5 million from Mayor Eric Adams’ office to go toward the project, according to ARTNews, an art publication.

The Noguchi Museum, a gallery and sculpture garden located at 9-1 33rd Road in Astoria (Photo Google Maps)

Brett Littman, the director of The Noguchi Museum, pictured, said that the funds being provided to the Noguchi Museum will help stabilize and preserve Noguchi’s former studio building (Photo by Paul Frangipane)

Lewandowski said that the funding provided to The Chocolate Factory will also benefit the local art scene, with her organization aiming to renovate its current premises by building.

The upgrades, she said, will transform the space into a state-of-the-art theater and double the capacity of the venue, which was formerly used as a dye-making factory.

“This investment will be the capstone of the funding we need to get our renovation done,” Lewandowski said.

“This is our front yard, this is our back yard, this is the geographic and heart center of New York City. This is where we live, work and invite others to experience performances that they will not experience anywhere else.”

With additional reporting by Paul Frangipane.

Sheila Lewandowski, the executive director of The Chocolate Factory Theater, pictured, said that the funding provided to The Chocolate Factory will help build a state-of-the-art theater at its current premises (Photo by Paul Frangipane)

The Chocolate Factory Theater, a performative arts center located at 38-33 24th St. in Long Island City, has been allocated $2 million by the Queens Borough President’s Office (Photo: Google Maps)

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Queens Botanical Garden celebrates groundbreaking on new $34 million education center

City officials, elected leaders and Flushing community members helped break ground on a new and long-awaited $34 million education building at the Queens Botanical Garden that will feature six teaching areas for year-round programming.

The Joan N. and Norman Bluestone Education Center will be 14,500 square feet, replacing a smaller educational space. It will have four indoor classrooms, a teaching kitchen, and a solarium where educators can grow and maintain plants for educational purposes.

Advocates urge passage of New York for All Act as Assembly session nears end

Jun. 16, 2025 By Jimmy Robles

As the State Senate concluded its legislative session on Thursday, immigrant rights advocates renewed calls for lawmakers to pass the New York for All Act before the Assembly adjourns on Tuesday, June 17. The proposed legislation, along with several other immigration-related bills, remains pending as the clock winds down on this year’s session.

Queens gun buyback takes 74 firearms off streets, including ghost guns and assault weapons: DA

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Monday that 74 firearms were taken off the streets at the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York in Jamaica during a gun buyback event on Saturday, June 14. The weapons were exchanged for bank cards pre-loaded with cash, with no identification required and no questions asked.

“Gun buybacks serve as a critical tool for reducing gun violence and promoting public safety within our communities,” Katz said. “This Saturday, working with the NYPD and clergy leaders in Jamaica, we received 74 surrendered guns — including five automatic weapons. As a result, these firearms will not be used to cause heartache and tragedy.”

Queens Distance Runners hosts second annual track meet at St. John’s University, spotlighting Olympian and local talent

Jun. 16, 2025 By Paulina Albarracin

Dozens of runners gathered at the DaSilva Field Track in St. John’s University for the second annual track meet last month. Hosted by Queens Distance Runners (QDR), a grassroots running organization, the sporting competition welcomed sprinters and distance runners of all skill levels to test their abilities, vying for the podium in track events from 100 meters to 5,000 meters.