Our Vision
Powerhouse envisions a society in which creative expression is celebrated and supported as central to personal and civic development.
Powerhouse’s vision for impact is rooted in three Core Values that affirm:
People as an infinite spring of creativity:
In shared spaces of exploration, communities imagine new realities for themselves and their neighbors. Powerhouse collaborates with individuals and organizations to support the creative lives of New Yorkers.
Making as a collective practice of possibility:
When we make, we experiment, explore, expand, and evolve. Making is a process of dreaming of new possibilities for ourselves and our communities, thus, igniting potential transformation.
Social justice as a practice of Powerhouse:
Culture thrives where justice flourishes. As a creative hive, we foster an environment where people feel inspired and empowered to explore and create within and beyond the walls of Powerhouse.
On the Needs of Working Artists
From 2016-2018, as an extension of our commitment to creating a need-responsive platform for art production and employment in the arts, Powerhouse Arts collaborated with Triple Canopy to undertake a comprehensive Research and Development initiative with the goal of understanding the stated needs of contemporary artists and arts administrators across New York City.
Read More
vozarrón: a culture column that critiques and celebrates
vozarrón is noise, a word used to mock the voice of a matriarch that speaks boldly, seeking attention and care for her community. The word highlights the “rough” qualities of a voice and deems it too “manly” or too “loud.” It’s a voice that is not delicate or shy, but is often undermined and ignored. Yet, it is persistent; repetitive. It is a sound that expresses the needs of a community in spaces that neglects them. It is often the plea for care, attention, and justice, but one that also carries a bassed laughter and a strong yet goofy character that laughs at itself. A voice that celebrates and demands.
People-Centered Hiring Practices & Philosophy
In 2019, Powerhouse Arts engaged Yancey Consulting to help design people-centered Human Resources recruitment and employment strategies that model the organization’s values. Out of this work grew a new hiring process that we have implemented with our newest hires.
Read More
Powerhouse Arts Yearbook
Each year we take stock and reflect on our accomplishments over the last fiscal year. This compilation of featured projects, growth milestones, and organizational highlights is consolidated into an annual yearbook authored by the Powerhouse team for posterity. The current report covers fiscal year 2020, the period from July 1st, 2019 through June 30th, 2020. Read More