Here in Public Programs we are always joking that we do the absolute most. But the business of creating socially, culturally relevant public programs that invite visitors to engage with our special exhibitions and encyclopedic collection is no joke! With about 150 programs a year welcoming over 150,000 visitors, it’s hard to find a moment of calm to toast to all of the transformative talks, films, performances, and community collaborations that we put together and it’s even harder to choose our favorites. Keep reading to hear the team’s highlights from 2016:
Life and Freedom for Ashraf Fayadh: We dove into the new year head first and hosted a worldwide reading with PEN American Center in support of the Palestinian poet who was facing a death sentence by a Saudi court for apostasy. A court reduced the sentence in February but Fayadh is still incarcerated.
February Target First Saturday: Radical Black History Month: In our highest attended First Saturday of the year we honored the 50th anniversary of the Black Panther Party by celebrating the past, present, and future of the black radical tradition.
dapperQ: Our third year of partnering with dapperQ for New York Fashion Week! In a rare open-door NYFW showcase, this fashion show provides a space for queer designers to push the boundaries of the industry and the unique opportunity for visitors to experience their work.
Salsa Party: This year we took our beloved Salsa Parties to the next level by making them monthly! Experience the magic yourself every second Thursday of the month with a free lesson and performances from Brooklyn’s best salsa teams.
—Alicia Boone, Associate Curator of Public Programs
The Oral History of Female Drummers with Tom Tom Magazine at March Target First Saturday: Collaborating with over 20 women drummers to activate our entire museum? This performance was legendary!
Brooklyn Talks: Ai Weiwei and Tania Bruguera: I was on the edge of my seat for this heavy-hitting, and art historically unprecedented conversation between two of the most important dissident artists of our time.
The Cup Reader and Speed Sisters: This screening and conversation with the directors of two inspirational films about women who defy stereotypes despite living under occupation in Palestine was hard to beat.
August Target First Saturday: caribBEING in Brooklyn: With over 13k visitors August First Saturday was so fun! MeLo-X headlined and said it was one of the best sets he ever did.
—Lauren A Zelaya, Assistant Curator of Public Programs
Film: Keepers of the Game: While most of the nation was just waking up to the #noDAPL conflict, our July Target First Saturday: Visualize Independence centered indigenous narratives and resistance in our screening of Keepers of the Game. Both a good ol’ tear-jerking sports movie and a documentary on the daily struggles and rich culture of the Akwesasne Mohawk community, this film and talkback was one of our most powerful moments of the year.
—Claire Kissinger, Public Programs Assistant
Creation as Ritual: As the closing celebration of our incredible Disguise: Masks and Global African Art show, this six hour marathon of visceral, spiritual, and multisensory artwork is still buzzing in our minds and souls.
—Omololu Babatunde, Former Public Programs Fellow
Brooklyn Dance Festival: Enlivening our galleries with modern, hip hop, and traditional dance over several First Saturdays, Brooklyn Dance Festival brought dance into the Museum in a whole new way. Make sure you don’t miss them next month!
—Lena Sawyer, Former Public Programs Fellow
Community Talk: Planned Parenthood NYC Votes and Friends: At our first Target First Saturday following the election, we provided space for a much needed discussion with a sense of community urgency. I could feel the heat and passion that both the PP panelists and audience members came with and I thought it was the perfect way to transform the museum into a community forum space.
—Chris Moyer, Public Programs Fellow
Brown Girls Burlesque presents Strip the Polls at November’s Target First Saturday: Brown Girls Burlesque held it down for democracy in their titillating performance at First Saturday!
—Haley Graham, Public Programs Fellow
Red Umbrella Diaries at December Target First Saturday: It was so refreshing to hear the narratives of sex workers from their own perspective! On an evening which recognized World AIDS Day, having an open and honest discussion of the struggles and joy of sex work was really incredible.
— Camilo Godoy, Public Programs Fellow
A huge shout-out and our biggest thanks to every artist, scholar, writer, and activist who worked with us this year to create these amazing programs! We are so appreciative of the thoughtful, brave, and relevant work you do! We can’t wait to celebrate your next projects!
Posted by Claire Kissinger, Lauren Zelaya, and Alicia Boone
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