October 2025 Grantee Events
Experience a wide range of art activities by supporting our Creative Engagement, Creative Learning, and UMEZ Arts Engagement grantees and their events this month.
Te Ao Mana
TATOU FESTIVAL
Oct 01, 2025 – Oct 05, 2025
LA MAMA Experimental Theater Club, 66 East 4th Street, New York, New York, 10003
TATOU FESTIVAL is New York City's premiere Ta'ata Moana Nui (Pacific Islander) event, created by and for Ta'ata Moana Nui, where all are welcome to respectfully engage in our cultural traditions and artistic innovations. Our week of events include immersive workshops and master classes, evocative performances, live traditional tattoo and carving demonstrations, an Ori Tahiti (Tahitian dance) competition, and a Pacific artisanal marketplace.
Find more information at https://www.lamama.org/te-ano-mana/
Grant program(s) Creative Engagement
Schedule of events:
10/01 - 6PM, Native Film Screenings at A/P/A NYU 10/02 - 6PM, Music, Dance & Poetry at Judson memorial Church
10/03 - 10:30 AM - 5:45 PM, Ori Tahti Master Classes at La Mama
10/03 - 7PM, TRANS PACIFIC GLAM at La Mama
10/04 - 12:00 - 6:00 PM, Ori Tahiti Competition at Judson Church
10/05 - 10:30 AM - 5:00 PM, Moana Nui Workshops at La Mama
10/05 - 6:30 PM, Closing Pa'ina at La Mama
VGM Jam Sessions NYC
VGM Jam sessions NYC
October 03, 2025 at 7:00 PM – October 03, 2025 at 10:30 PM
OS Nyc, 50 Bowery, New York, New York, 10013
VGM Jam Sessions NYC is a grassroots community that seeks to partner with NYC venues to provide an environment where people from all walks of life can express their love for music, videogames and the intersection of two by performing, arranging, and listening to classic and contemporary Video Game Music (VGM) together. Our monthly event at OS NYC features an all-VGM performance of top-call nyc musicians followed by an open Jam Session. Everyone from students and public school educators to top call, Grammy-winning musicians regularly participate in our monthly jam session.
Find more information at https://linktr.ee/vgmjamsessionsnyc
Grant program(s) Creative Engagement
Schedule of events:
First Friday of every month 7-8pm performance 8:30-10:30 PM jam.
2025: 10/3 11/7 12/5
Mary Prescott
First Bite
Oct 03, 2025 at 07:30pm – Oct 03, 2025 at 09:00pm
Mabou Mines, 150 1st Ave, Second Floor, New York, New York, 10009
First Bite offers a taste of interdisciplinary performance artist Mary Prescott’s explorations around sense memory and storytelling. Through her Thai mother’s family recipes, Prescott investigates matrilineal heritage transmitted through food, and its infusions of migration, ecology, culture and community. Performance elements include music, word, movement and film.
Find more information at https://www.maboumines.org/production/mary-prescott-ancestral-table-first-bite/
Grant program(s) Creative Engagement
The Japanese Folk Dance Institute of NY
Fun Fest Japan
Oct 05, 2025 at 12:00PM – Oct 05, 2025 at 04:00PM
Corlears Hook Park, 397 FDR Dr, New York, NY 10002, New York, New York, 10002
Presented by The Japanese Folk Dance Institute of New York (JFDINY), FUN FEST JAPAN celebrates Japan and NYC with an all day Japanese cultural festival, featuring traditional performing arts and fun cultural activities for the whole family! Enjoy performances by JFDINY’s own Minbuza (Japanese Folk Dance), Samurai Sword Soul (Traditional Sword Fighting), and Taiko Masala (Taiko Drumming). In our activities area, experience a variety of fun Japanese arts and crafts such as origami, calligraphy, kendama, and kimono dressing. The finale of the day will be the Bon Odori, a traditional Japanese Summer event where everyone joins in and dances together!
Find more information at https://www.friendsofcorlears.org
Grant program(s) Creative Engagement
Harlem MEET Africa
Harlem MEET Africa
Oct 05, 2025 at 02:00PM – Oct 05, 2025 at 06:45PM
Richard Rodgers Amphitheater, Marcus Garvey Park, New York, New York, 10026
HARLEM MEET AFRICA Festival returns to the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater in Marcus Garvey Park on Sunday, October 5, 2025, from 2:00 - 7:00 PM for its third edition. This free annual festival is fun for the whole family, featuring renowned international and local Harlem performers, spoken word, cultural showcases, and amazing West African drummers to celebrate the cultural bridge between Harlem and Africa. The festival will provide an inclusive platform for artists and community members to come together, showcasing vibrancy through music, dance, and art. HARLEM MEET AFRICA Festival is more than just a cultural celebration, it is a day of unity, education, empowerment, and FUN!
Find more information at https://www.facebook.com/HarlemMEETAfrica/
Grant program(s) Creative Engagement
Friends of Argentine Tango
Fiesta Latina
Oct 06, 2025 – Oct 13, 2025
YM & YWHA of Washington Heights, 54 Nagle Ave, New York, New York, 10040
Fiesta Latina, join us to celebrate Hispanic heritage month with music, dance and culture. Four workshops on Latin Social Dancing and a great show with 10 Latin artists on the stage.
Find more information at www.friendsofargentinetango.org
Grant program(s) Creative Learning
Schedule of events:
10-6-25 1:20-2:20 pm Milonga
10-13-25 Fiesta Latina show (live music, singer and dancers)
Kat Mustatea
The Mutables
Oct 08, 2025 – Oct 11, 2025
HERE Arts Center, 145 SIXTH AVENUE, New York, New York, 10013
The Mutables Created by Kat Mustatea Using a unique sensor-based instrument for embodied speech called BodyMouth, this eerie performance intertwines bodies and vocals as dancers sound out words phoneme-by-phoneme by enacting specific gestures in sequence, turning the body quite literally into a mouth that speaks. Situated at the edge of experimental opera and dance,THE MUTABLES weaves cutting edge technology for speech production with mythographies of the feminine monstrous to expand and reorient our intuitions for what can be put into words.
Find more information at https://here.org/shows/the-mutables/
Grant program(s) Creative Engagement
Schedule of events:
10/08/25 - 8:30 PM at HERE Arts Center
10/09/25 - 8:30 PM at HERE Arts Center
10/10/25 - 8:30 PM at HERE Arts Center
10/11/25 - 8:30 PM at HERE Arts Center
Maria Caridad del Valle
Primavera Ya No Hay Más
Oct 09, 2025 – Oct 11, 2025
Teatro Circulo, 64 E 4th Street, New York, New York, 10003
A woman packs years of memories in a pre-war New York apartment, facing eviction while navigating gentrification, perimenopause, failed relationships, and the deepest grief—losing her daughter—with irony, tenderness, and vulnerability. This production highlights the strength of women’s voices on and off the stage. Artistic & Technical Team Playwright & Performer: Caridad del Valle Director: Leyma López Lighting & Scenic Design: Omayra Garriga Illustration: Narah Valdés Venue: Teatro Círculo, 64 E 4th Street, New York, NY, 10003, on October 9, 10, and 11 at 7:00pm.
Find more information at https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/few-pennies-theatricals/primavera-ya-no-hay-mas
Grant program(s) Creative Engagement, UMEZ Arts Engagement
Schedule of events:
10/09/25- 7 PM at Teatro Círculo
10/10/25- 7 PM at Teatro Círculo
10/11/25- 7 PM at Teatro Círculo
Siyan Wong
My Art, My Voice, Our Zen
Oct 10, 2025 – Jan 10, 2026
Taller Boricua Galleries, 1680 Lexington Ave, New York, New York, 10029
“My Art, My Voice, Our Zen” is a group Exhibition featuring Siyan Wong’s paintings depicting inequality and the life and work of Chinese immigrant women.
Find more information at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/my-art-my-voice-our-zen-tickets-1534109656279?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=
Grant program(s) Creative Engagement
Schedule of events:
Opening Reception: Friday, October 10, 2025, 6-9pm, RSVP through Eventbrite
Gallery Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday, 12-6pm
Marta L Blair
Culminating Party / Mural Celebration
Oct 10, 2025 at 01:00PM – Oct 10, 2025 at 03:00PM
PSS Harlem Center at Oberia Dempsey / Older Adult Center, 127 West 127th Street, Room 125, New York, New York, 10027
Africa & Latin America Textile-inspired Mural / Culminating Party.
Find more information at Martablair.com
Grant program(s) Creative Learning
David Alston, Fatima Logan-Alston- Threads of Truth
Roots Intertwined
Oct 11, 2025 – Oct 12, 2025
Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 W 55th Street, New York, New York, 10019
Roots Intertwined, is an interdisciplinary performance event incorporating live music and dance to trace the fusion of African Diasporic and multi-cultural influences and resiliency that gave rise to funk.
Find more information at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/roots-intertwined-tickets-1613325071719?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp
Grant program(s) Creative Engagement
Schedule of events:
10/11/2025: 7pm at Ailey Citigroup Theater
10/12/2025: 7pm at Ailey Citigroup Theater
MEXAMORPHOSIS
Mexamorphosis
Oct 11, 2025 at 08:00PM – Oct 11, 2025 at 10:00PM
Silvana, 300 W116th Street, New York, New York, 10026
Mexamorphosis at Silvana! Saturday, October 11, 2025 | 8:00 – 10:00 PM Mexamorphosis celebrates underrepresented music traditions, bringing together artists and audiences from diverse cultures through immersive performances. This public Harlem concert will feature a special collaboration with the African collective Farafina Blues, offering a musical journey across regions and centuries while exploring deep connections and shared roots. Free General Admission
Find more information at https://www.mexamorphosis.org/upcoming-events
Grant program(s) Creative Engagement, UMEZ Arts Engagement
Pedro Giraudo
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at Westbeth
Oct 12, 2025 at 07:00PM – Oct 12, 2025 at 08:30PM
Westbeth Artist Housing - Community Room, 55 Bethune St., New York, New York, 10014
Come join us at Westbeth Artists Housing as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a special performance by the Giraudo Sinfonietta. Enjoy a night filled with beautiful music and cultural celebration. Don't miss out on this unique event!
Find more information at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrate-hispanic-heritage-month-westbeth-with-the-giraudo-sinfonietta-tickets-1592142092859?aff=oddtdtcreator
Grant program(s) Creative Engagement
Lindsay Ross on behalf of eGALitarian Brass
Brass Blast Off: A Musical Journey for Kids of all Ages
Oct 14, 2025 at 04:00PM – Oct 14, 2025 at 05:00PM
Washington Square Park, 5th Ave and Washington Place, New York, New York, 10003
Brass Blast Off: A Musical Journey for Kids of all Ages: eGALitarian Brass will perform family friendly concerts featuring brass quintet and drums with visual aspects. Visual aspects include an animated children’s story accompanying the music, video art inspired by some of the pieces, hand and body percussion, and more.
Find more information at www.egalitarianbrass.com
Grant program(s) Creative Engagement
Workers Unite Film Festival, Inc
14th Annual Workers Unite Film Festival
Oct 17, 2025 – Oct 30, 2025
Cinema Village, Cinema Village 22 East 12th Street, New York, New York, 10003
14th Annual Workers Unite Film Festival. NYC’s celebration of global labor solidarity in order to show workers worldwide as they fight to be treated with dignity, equality and be paid livable wages.
Find more information at www.workersunitefilmfestival.org
Grant program(s) Creative Engagement
Schedule of events:
10/17/25-10/23/25 screenings every day at Cinema Village NYC deom 3:30 PM to 10:30 PM 10/24/25 to 10/30/25 at several independent venues in downtown Manhattan
Simona Smirnova
Kanklės Features Diversity
Oct 17, 2025
Five Flies, 554 W 158th St, New York, NY 10032, New York, New York, 10032
"Kanklės Features Diversity" is a monthly concert series at a local coffee shop, "Five Flies" in Washington Heights. Each concert will feature a different and unique musical duet: kanklės and sitar, saxophone, double bass, oud and harp. All concerts are free and open to the public.
Find more information at www.simonasmirnova.nyc
Grant program(s) UMEZ Arts Engagement
Schedule of events:
All performances take place at Five Flies (554 W 158th St, New York, NY 10032)
7/18/25 - 7PM Kanklės and saxophone, featuring Alec Hutson
8/29/25 - 7PM Kanklės and double bass, featuring Maksim Perepelica
9/26/25 - 7PM Kanklės and oud, featuring Josh Kaye
10/17/25 - 7PM Kanklės and harp, featuring Johanna Telander
Shawn Batey
WE KEEP US SAFE
Oct 18, 2025 – Oct 19, 2025
Walking artist studio tour in multiple galleries and private studios in Harlem, my video will show at 104 W 119th, New York, New York, 10026
Harlem Open Artist Studio Tour (HOAST) 2025) is a two day weekend event that offers visitors an opportunity to meet Harlem based artists, visit their workspaces, and observe the artistic process. HOAST 2025 will take place throughout the Harlem community at Harlem based galleries and private venues. The HOAST map will list all venues & galleries. Shawn Batey will present her documentary film, WE KEEP US SAFE, throughout the weekend. Screenings will be every hour followed by a Q&A for visitors.
Find more information at artharlem.org
Grant program(s) Creative Engagement, UMEZ Arts Engagement
Schedule of events:
Oct 18 & 19 from 12-6 pm throughout the Harlem community
Andrea Arroyo
"Viva la Vida"
Oct 24, 2025 – Nov 02, 2025
Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art & Storytelling, 898 St Nicholas Avenue, New York, New York, 10032
“Viva la Vida, by Andrea Arroyo, is a large-scale contemporary art installation inspired by Mexico’s Day of the Dead tradition. The work honors memory, legacy, belonging, and community, transforming ancestral practices into a vibrant expression of resilience and cultural continuity.
Find more information at https://www.sugarhillmuseum.org/now-on-view
Grant program(s) UMEZ Arts Engagement
Schedule of events:
10/24/25 Exhibition opens to the public
10/25/25 Opening reception with Live painting and Live music featuring Andrea Arroyo and Ms Marjorie Eliot.
10/26/25 Exhibition open to the public
10/31-11/2/2025 Exhibition open to the public.
Four Seas Players, Inc.
Spring Fever Hotel
Oct 25, 2025 – Oct 26, 2025
Arbons Arts Center Playhouse, 466 Grand Street, New York, New York, 10002
Step into 1920s Hong Kong and Macau, where a night at the Spring Fever Hotel unfolds with mistaken identities, chaotic romances, and unexpected surprises. Get ready for a hilarious journey filled with sharp wit, frantic misunderstandings, and outrageous twists as couples, spouses, and eccentric staff collide in a timeless comedy that will keep you laughing from start to finish!
Find more information at https://fourseasplayers.org/
Grant program(s) Creative Engagement
Schedule of events:
10/25/25 - 3:00 pm
10/26/25 - 3:00 pm