#BlackLivesMatter

To our families, friends and supporters,

In the wake of the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor and countless others, JCAL stands in solidarity in the fight against racism and police brutality. We will continue to support our community of Black colleagues and citizens, sharing our resources to help artists of color tell their stories and work towards social justice. As it has for many years, JCAL will serve as a safe space for the Black community and people of all backgrounds, in which racism and prejudice will not be tolerated.

Now, and going forward, JCAL will hold our community and ourselves to this standard. As an organization, we will use the arts to amplify and empower Black voices. To our community of Black artists, we’d like you to know that you are seen, and that Black voices will always be heard at JCAL.

Thank you to everyone who is doing the work and leading the charge against racism and our sincere condolences to those we’ve lost.

Sincerely,
Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning

Watch & Learn

JCAL Presents

Monstah Black's Cotton: the Quarantine Edition premiere

June 5, 2020

7:30 PM on our Facebook

This dance film will be accompanied by a live musical performance. The work investigates the idea of physical transformation as a source for healing. Black employs images from slavery as a point of departure, modifying the images into positive iconography to inspire and empower those that suffered and continue to suffer from its ugly legacy.

Watch Here

#jcalPOPUPclasses

To help you and your families stay active and creative, we are offering #jcalPOPUPclasses streamed online throughout the month of April. These programs are geared towards school-aged audiences but are made with all age groups in mind. The classes cover music, dance, art, drama, and STEM.

Visit our Youtube page to participate Tue-Thu at 4pm, and Sat 1pm!

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2nd Thursday Night Jazz

Stay tuned for our regular 2nd Thursday Night Jazz, continuing livestream. While nothing beats a live performance with in our landmark buildings, it's a chance to support these musicians as they share their music on a more intimate scale.

Join us via Youtube live stream June 11th @8PM for a performance by vocalist Thana Alex.

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Friday Nights @ JAC

Friday Nights @JAC is an incubator series for creative individuals and emerging artists who need a stage to perform to new audiences. This series is supported by Councilman I. Daneek Miller, Dist. 27.

See recent performances by J La Sol, Bria Monet, and Ashley Keiko on our Youtube page.

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Subscribe to the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL) Youtube channel for the latest videos!

Building Equity Project

Connect & Explore

#jcalAmericanStories

Connection and creativity are vital for building strong communities. Therefore, JCAL is launching this

online platform for snapshots of life and creativity from across the U.S. as well as right here in NYC and Queens. Participate through Instagram and through our website.

Explore

Community and Culture

On view May 20 - June 28, 2020

Artist Talk: Thursday June 4, 6PM via Zoom

An online exhibition of works from Queens College Art Education Graduate Students.

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Artist Registry

Check out our ongoing, open gallery for artists! The JCAL Artist Registry is online catalog of images documenting the work of artists who are not affiliated with a commercial gallery in New York City.

Explore

Get Involved

Making Moves Dance Festival - Open Call

**Deadline extended: May 8, 2020**

JCAL invites all NYC-based dance companies and choreographers to apply for the Making Moves Dance Festival 2020: “Switchin’ It Up.” This is the 11th year of the festival. MMDF2020 offers one commission and numerous paid performance opportunities for choreographers on both the indoor and outdoor stages of the Jamaica Performing Arts Center. The performances are scheduled for Sept. 25-26, 2020.

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Jamaica Flux - Open Call

**Final Deadline Extension: May 15, 2020**

JCAL seeks proposals from artists to research the neighborhood of Jamaica, Queens, in 2020 for the presentation and possible creation of new, site-specific, public art projects that engage the local community in 2021. Now in its 5th iteration, Jamaica Flux: Workspaces & Windows 2021 commissions and presents art that can create changes in behavior and policy while documenting the developments and contradictions that arise in the process.

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Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean: A Focus on the Taíno

Monday, June 22, 2020, 7:00 - 8:30PM

A lecture that look at the history, culture, and contemporary issues of the Taíno People. This lecture presentation will be followed by a Q & A session.

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Puerto Rico Update with Prolibertad

Thu., June 25, 2020, 7:00 - 8:00 PM

A panel discussion about the island and its people today, particularly in pandemic period after the disaster.

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Film & Music: Sounds of Siberia

Monday, June 29, 2020, 7:00 - 8:30PM

In this online concert film presentation, viewers will be taken on a journey to the expanse of Siberia by Yuliyana Krivoshapkina and Nachyn Choreve

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