Become a Member!
Culture Lab LIC is celebrating 5 years & we need you to help us build the next 5!
Thanks to you, in 2024 our mission to bring impactful art to Western Queens has flourished beyond our wildest dreams. Your contributions--whether through donations, volunteer efforts, or simply by spreading the word about our initiatives --have helped us to make a profound difference in the lives of artists and art lovers in our community.
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Your generous support not only fueled our programs but also directly impacted the artists we serve, providing them with invaluable opportunities and resources, and a platform to share their stories, visions, and inspirations with the world.
With your continued support in the coming year, we aim to expand our reach, continue to present local and international artists, and further enrich our community through art.
Here are 3 ways you can help...
Donate so we can continue to present the great art & events you love.
Join the Culture Lab LIC Family by Becoming a Member!
Help us keep our doors open by becoming an Official Sponsor!
SOUNDS
FROM THE
GALLERY
Sounds From the Gallery is our free indoor concert series, featuring live music performed within the vibrant atmosphere of our gallery’s art exhibitions!
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Click Here to see what's coming up!
Culture Lab After Dark presents
Nice One! Comedy
Thursday, March 27, 8 - 10pm
Laughs meet art at Culture Lab LIC, where stand-up comedy takes center stage in a vibrant gallery setting!
This week's lineup:
Brendan Sagelow (Comedy Cellar)
Mike Recine (Conan)
Vannessa Jackson (Saturday Night Live)
Jeff Cerulli (Amazon Prime)
Jake Velazquez (NY Comedy Club)
Katrina Davis
Art Exchange: Italy and America
On View: March 6 - April 20 during gallery hours
Thursday & Friday, 5-9pm, and Saturday & Sunday, 2-9pm.
Opening Reception: March 6, 6-9pm
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Join us in celebrating the opening of Art Exchange: Italy and America, curated by Tess Howsam and Daniela Rambaldi in collaboration with Simona HeArt and Giusseppe Lombardi.
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Sponsored by Carlo Rambaldi Foundation as part of its 2025 Centennial Celebrations, and organized by the Cultural Association of Rambaldi Promotions, this is a one of a kind event dedicated to increasing the international visibility of Italian art, and creating an artistic dialogue that embraces culture, styles and visions.
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Enjoy beer, wine, lighter fare and live jazz!
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Thanks to our sponsors:
Plaxall Inc, TF Cornerstone, Steve Madden,
NYS Council on the Arts, Howard Gilman Foundation
Dates in March 2025
March 6, 7, 8, 9 at 7:30pm
March 13, 14, 15, 16 at 7:30pm
March 20, 21, 22, 23 at 7:30pm
March 27, 28 at 7:30pm
March 29, 30 at 2:30pm
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90 minutes
It CAN Happen Here!
Hallie Flanagan and the Federal Theatre
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A multimedia extravaganza celebrating the Federal Theatre and revealing the forces that led to its downfall–forces even more powerful today.
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It CAN Happen Here! is a multi-media experience that weaves together three strands of storyline: the achievements of the Federal Theatre Project, which employed tens of thousands of artists from every demographic working in every theatrical genre and which brought performances into every corner of the U.S.; the ground-breaking work of its fearless leader, Hallie Flanagan, whose vision shaped the story-telling and aesthetics of the most impactful productions; and the political consequences, which encompassed the breaking of racial and social barriers and earned the disapprobation of the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), whose legacy of attacks on Theatre and the Arts continue to this day.
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Runs Thursday, March 6 - Sunday, March 30
Photos by Al Foote III
The Hunger & the Haunt
The Hunger & The Haunt is an original theatrical song recital and community resource fair held at Culture Lab LIC, April 4 & 5, 7pm.
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The performance explores how folks from the AANHPI diaspora reclaim connection to their heritage and discover new pathways towards ancestral nourishment. This interdisciplinary work combines contemporary dance, spoken poetry, and classical music by exclusively AANHPI composers to tell the fantastical story of a Chinese American girl trying to find her way home as she traverses a mysterious, dark pit and navigates strange encounters.
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The performance will be presented by an ensemble of Asian American women, including Abagael Cheng (soprano), Marie Lloyd Paspe (dancer), and Amber Scherer (piano). The curated recital program features works by Juhi Bansal, Chihchun Chi-Su Lee, Shruti Rajasekar, Angela Yam, Johnum Palado, and Teresa Mei Chuc, among others.
Each performance will be complemented by a community resource fair at 8:30 PM, where local organizations that empower AANHPI communities in Queens will share information about their work and offer concrete ways to get involved. Partner organizations include the Flushing Chapter of Asian Americans for Equality, South Asian Youth Action, MinKwon Center for Community Action, and more. Representing a variety of neighborhoods and AANHPI identities across Queens, these organizations advocate for residents around issues of housing, civic engagement, youth leadership, and economic and social justice.
Allegra Levy's
Songs For You & Me!
Jazz for Kids!
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Allegra presents songs from her album, “Songs for You and Me,” the acclaimed singer/songwriter's first foray into jazz for the juvenile set, not only teaches both kids and adults how to say hello in 12 different languages. From bedtime and bath time to boogers and boo-boos, she and her all-star big band make it all sing… and swing!“
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"Allegra Levy sounds like a female version of Mr. Rogers on this cozy album of cozy songs for tykes … Completely charming, life affirming and inviting. Won’t you be her neighbor?” - Jazz Weekly
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Sunday, April 6, 4pm
Sunday, May 4, 4pm
REVERB: A Queer History Experience
Male Impersonators with Gillian M. Rodger
An immersive program series that connects the echoes of queer history to the present through history lessons and live performance.
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Join our host lecturer, Dr. Gillian M. Rodger [author of Just One of the Boys: Female-to-Male Cross-Dressing on the American Variety Stage], for a dynamic evening in which we explore the history of the Male Impersonator as portrayed on the Vaudevillian stage and beyond.
Attendees can expect an exciting presentation that covers key historical figures followed by talented performers who bring them to life on the stage, all set within a transformed performance space that evokes queer nightclubs of the past.
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Saturday, April 12, 7 - 10pm
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ABOUT REVERB: COLLABORATION WITH AMERICAN LGBTQ+ MUSEUM: An immersive program series that connects the echoes of queer history to the present through captivating history lessons and live performances. Each event features a blend of lectures, music, dance, and interactive experiences, all set within a casual, speakeasy atmosphere. Participants can explore archival materials and ephemera that highlight a unique aspect of queer history, showcasing how its reverberations continue to shape and influence the LGBTQ+ community. Reverb creates a space to cultivate a deeper connection to queer history through both education and expression.
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ABOUT AMERICAN LGBTQ+ MUSEUM: The American LGBTQ+ Museum (ALM) preserves, investigates, and celebrates the dynamic histories and cultures of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, as well as those of the emergent and adjacent identities among our communities. Using exhibitions and programs, we seek to advance LGBTQ+ equality through the lens of social justice movements, including, but not limited to, race, gender, class, immigration, and disability.
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Free Admission.
SpeakEasier Language Exchange
4th Saturday of every month
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Are you learning Arabic, Spanish, French, or Farsi? If so, please join us for the monthly SpeakEasier Language Exchange at Culture Lab LIC! This is a fun and interactive event where you can practice your target language(s) with fellow language enthusiasts.
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Whether you're a beginner or fluent speaker, everyone is welcome to participate in this exciting exchange.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to meet new people, practice your target language, and discover a beautiful cultural center in the heart of NYC’s Long Island City!
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Hope to see you there!
Upcoming Dates:
Saturday, March 22, 3pm
Saturday, April 26, 3pm
Saturday, May 24, 3pm
Saturday, June 28, 3pm
Saturday, July 26, 3pm
Saturday, August 23, 3pm
Saturday, September 27, 3pm
Saturday, October 25, 3pm
Saturday, November 22, 3pm
Saturday, December 27, 3pm
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Free; Donations Appreciated
The People Behind the Names
Black History In Queens
Curated by Queens Memory Project
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Extended to April 21
Free Admission
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In honor of Black History Month, The People Behind the Names: Black History in Queens, spotlights individuals featured in The Queens Name Explorer whose names carry historical significance. From outspoken ministers to pioneering musicians to female leaders in public service, this small sampling provides a glimpse into the histories of Elmhurst, Corona, Flushing, St. Albans, Jamaica, Hollis, and Kew Garden Hills.
2025 Emergence Artist
Residency Program
Culture Lab LIC is excited to announce our 2025 Emergence Artists in Residence!
These diverse and exceptional performace based artists will be a part of Culture Lab LIC's New Works Festival coming this Fall!
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Culture Lab LIC's Emergence Artist Residency is a developmental performing arts program geared toward the support and creation of new work.
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Started in 2021 by former Director of Performing Arts, Tana Sirois, the Emergence Artist Residence began as a desire to offer free rehearsal and performance space to performing artists. Since its conception the residency has been further developed and led by Artistic Director Tess Howsam expanding the program to include peer review sessions during the artists year and culminating in Culture Lab LIC’s New Works Festival November and December.
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Open Call
ARISE 2025
Spring Dance Festival
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Our 2025 ARISE Spring Dance Festival Open Call is now open to submissions!
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ARISE is a dance festival with the mission to showcase a selection of curated work from a range of local dance artists. This festival is an exhilarating event that brings together dancers, choreographers, and enthusiasts from all corners of NYC to Queens, NYC for a mesmerizing showcase of talent and creativity.
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We will feature 7-10 minute pieces by six companies over the course of four nights, April 24, 25, 26, 27.
Compensation for each company will be a $200 stipend for each group plus a 50/50 ticket split between the venue (Culture Lab LIC) and the six companies. ​Artists retain creative rights to the work created.
Submission Deadline: March 28, 11:59pm
Video Highlights from Arise Dance Festival 2024...
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Open Call for Art:
Threads of Resilience
A Mental Health Exhibition
This poignant exhibition explores the intersection of mental health and art, focusing on the transformative and healing aspects of confronting mental illness. Against the backdrop of a nation grappling with rising mental health challenges, "Resilience" invites visitors to reflect on the personal and collective journeys of healing in a time marked by social change, uncertainty, and resilience.
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Featuring works from a diverse group of artists, the exhibit will encompass paintings, sculptures, mixed media, photography and installations. Each piece will offer a glimpse into the lived experiences of mental illness, capturing themes of struggle, hope, and renewal.
Submission Deadline: 11:59pm EST, April 1, 2025
Exhibition on view: April 24 - June 1, 2025
Culture Lab LIC does not take a commission on any art sold. As such, artists should price art to reflect no gallery commission.
Open Call for Art:
[Un]Framing Gender
From America to Pakistan
[Un]Framing Gender invites viewers to traverse the intricate terrains of gender identity, culture, and self-expression through the artistic lens.
This dynamic exhibition brings together a diverse group of artists from South Asia and America, showcasing innovative works that reflect the shifting landscapes of masculinity and femininity in contemporary society.
The show is a curatorial collaboration by Tess Howsam (Artistic Director, Culture Lab LIC, America) and Pomme Gohar (Creative Director, Phenomena, Pakistan).
Through painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media, each piece challenges conventional narratives and stimulates dialogue about the roles and perceptions of gender in both regions. Building from the 2022 exhibition, 'Zenana Mardana', curated by Pomme Gohar, [Un]Framing Gender offers a vibrant space for conversation and introspection, encouraging audiences to reconsider the intersections of culture, power, and personal expression transcending geographical boundaries and challenging cultural stereotypes.
Submission Deadline: 11:59pm EST, April 21, 2025
Exhibition on view: June 5 - July 27, 2025
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Culture Lab LIC does not take a commission on any art sold. As such, artists should price art to reflect no gallery commission.
Meet the People
behind Culture Lab LIC...
Without our team, none of our programming would be possible. Catch a glimpse into the lives of the people who make up the Culture Lab team, and all of the beautiful qualities and characteristics they posses to "make art happen!"
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And be sure to check out all the ways you can help make 2025 Culture Lab's best year ever!
Culture Lab LIC voted Best Art Gallery!
The people have spoken and named Culture Lab LIC Best Art Gallery in the Arts & Entertainment Section!
Queens residents have continued to stand behind their favorite local businesses in the FourLeaf Best of the Boro 2025 competition.
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Thanks to all our supporters!
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Our ART GALLERY is open Thursday & Friday, 5-9pm, and Saturday & Sunday, 2-10pm. Keep your eye on our social media for updates on our upcoming theatre, dance and comedy performances!
As a member of Culture Lab LIC, you directly support dozens of arts, cultural and neighborhood organizations enjoyed by the entire community. As a Thank You for your awesomeness, each of our membership levels offer something for everyone: $2 off drinks, early viewings to monthly exhibitions, artists talks, Culture Lab LIC swag, and discounts to theater, dance, music concerts, and special events. We have an exciting season ahead of us and we cannot wait to share it with you!
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