There’s a new sheriff in town. A very creative sheriff, it appears.
The newly launched Queens Culture & Arts Network (aka QCAN) will strive to create a wide range of art experiences to educate and celebrate the world’s most diverse borough. The public can expect workshops, pop-up art exhibitions, concerts, shows, arts-in-school residencies, mentorship programs for high school students aspiring to attend art colleges, career coaching for professionals, neighborhood beautification murals, and free park events.
QCAN is a subsidiary of the Astoria-based Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens, a 70-year-old community stalwart that provides youth-development programs and is about to expand and renovate its main building so it includes a 1,500-seat arena and 200-seat black box theatre. The executive director is Susan Agin, who previously ran Bayside’s Queensborough Performing Arts Center for 20 years. Ever the borough champion, the Queens College graduate was a theater producer at Flushing Town Hall before that.
“Each community has unique cultural and artistic needs and deserves tailored experiences,” stated Agin who is also Variety’s Director of Arts Programming. “Through QCAN, individuals discover and engage with the arts in their local neighborhoods. As the only arts organization within Queens that facilitates such accessibility, we are highlighting the crucial role of community engagement in the arts.”
QCAN’s first big ticket show features Zulu African Acrobats at Lexington Center (25-26 76th St., East Elmhurst) on Friday, Jan. 31, at 7:30 pm. This troupe, whose members are Baba Watoto School for Performing Arts graduates, will offer an interactive show with human pyramids, dish-spinning, stick balance, contortion, chair balance, unicycling, juggling, hand-to-hand balance, pole acts, hoop diving, and comedy.
General admission is $25.
“Susan Agin is a true visionary, and her talents will be instrumental as Queens Culture & Arts Network continues to adapt and evolve to the changing world,” opined Council Member James F. Gennaro. “I am proud to have allocated $17,000 to the organization in this year’s budget. Our successful partnership stems from QCAN‘s expertise in designing arts programming that reflects the unique characteristics of the communities they serve”
City Council Member Sandra Ung added: “I want to congratulate Susan and the Queens Culture & Arts Network on the establishment of this wonderful organization. Since I took office, I’ve had the pleasure of working with the team behind the Queens Culture & Arts Network to bring vibrant and engaging programming to District 20. One standout initiative has been Concerts in the Park, which brings together families from across Flushing for a joyful day of music in our green spaces. I look forward to continuing our partnership in the year ahead, including collaborating on a mural project to beautify our commercial corridors.”
Editor’s note: Before Zulu African Acrobats, a Jazz concert with the Bobby Harden Duo is set for the Kew Gardens Community Center (80-02 Kew Gardens Rd., Ste. 202) on Monday, Jan 13, at 2:30 pm. All are invited, but it’s not ticketed.
Images: Susan Agin/QCAN