The show must return!
Queens Rising, a borough-wide celebration of arts and culture, is bigger, bolder, and back for the entire month of June.
Now in its fourth year, Queens Rising amplifies the talent of more than 50 local artists who will perform in such hotspots as Flushing Town Hall, Alewife Brewing, and CultureLab LIC. Plus, the Queens Scene Performance Series returns for a second year.
The fun kicks off with the unveiling of the Queens Rising Visual Arts Exhibit at the Red Wall Gallery at Resorts World New York City, 110-00 Rockaway Blvd. in South Ozone Park, on Sunday, June 1 from 4 pm to 9 pm. The night includes a performance by Union Beat at Bar 360 at 6 pm.
First, here’s a list of Queens Rising activities.
Queens Night Market x Queens Rising (Saturday, June 14, 4 pm to midnight)
Live performances by Birds Dance for Queens, DJ Erik Anthony, Uptown Royalty, and Afro Dominicano at Queens Night Market (behind the New York Hall of Science at 47-01 111th St. in Corona.)
Culture Pass x Queens Rising (Saturday, June 21, 1 pm)
A panel discussion about Queens World Film Festival with QWFF administrators at Ridgewood Branch Library, 20-12 Madison St.
An Arts & Healing Guided Meditation (Tuesday, June 24, 4 pm)
Jimena Luna from Sit With Me In Wonderland uses creative visualization, music, and storytelling to help attendees on their healing inner journeys at Sunnyside Branch Library, 43-06 Greenpoint Ave.
And here’s information on the Queens Scene Performance Series, which selected talent via open call and then supported the winners with stipends, marketing, and production support.
A Night of Live Music with CreArtBox at 7 pm, Alba Muisik at 8 pm, and Marilyn Castillo at 9 pm at Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Nothern Bvd. on Friday, June 6.
A Night of Latin Music with live performances by Sunnyside Salsa, Rumba Cubana & Poesía, Salsa en Vinilos, Conjunto Los Chachos, and powerhouse voices from the Nuyorican Poets Cafe at Alewife Brewing, 41-11 39th St. in Sunnyside, on Saturday, June 7, starting at 7 pm.
High-Energy Performances by Mister Pablo, Believe in Ghost, and Jennah Vox at CultureLab LIC, 5-25 46th Ave. in Long Island City on Sunday, June 29, starting at 4:30 pm.
“As an artist, I’ve heard firsthand the voices of local performers expressing a deep desire to be seen, heard, and celebrated,” stated Queens Rising Project Manager Nedelka Sotelo. “Queens Scene was created with that intention—to amplify visibility for our homegrown talent and to open doors to more opportunities across the borough and beyond.”
Arianne Fernandez, a visual artist who curated the Red Wall exhibition, added: “Art possesses an universal transformative power to provide solace, inspiration, and connection, during times of uncertainty. As a Queens native, it is an honor to curate an exhibit that highlights the resilience of the human spirit and community.”
Resorts World New York City Vice President of Community Development Michelle Stoddart also added: “This celebration helps to establish our borough as a major destination for arts and culture and much like the work we do with our Red Wall Art Gallery, it creates an opportunity to expose the wonderful people who make Queens what it is to a larger audience.”
Since its inception in 2022, Queens Rising has acted as a catalyst for collaboration, connecting artists, venues, and businesses to maximize opportunities for arts and culture to flourish in Queens. Resorts World NYC is the lead sponsor with additional support by LIJ/Forest Hills-Northwell Health, the Howard Gilman Foundation, and the Kupferberg Center for the Arts at Queens College.
