RIBBON-CUTTING + OPEN HOUSE EVENTS

The Bushwick Starr was thrilled to host the first public events in our new venue this past weekend at a Ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, September 6, and community Open House on Saturday, September 7, 2024. The Ribbon-cutting featured remarks from major stakeholders, including elected officials, project partners, and key supporters, and was followed by a happy hour celebration in our new lobby, with venue tours available. Our community Open House took place the next day from 4-8pm, and featured food, drink, live music, and venue tours. Both events celebrated and unveiled Starr’s new 5,000 sq. ft. building– a fully accessible LEED certified state of the art facility and permanent cultural space for our community, designed by award-winning architectural firm Bureau V Architecture (the studio behind the design of Brooklyn’s non-profit music venue National Sawdust).

RIBBON-CUTTING PHOTOS by Steven Pisano available HERE
OPEN HOUSE PHOTOS by Coltrane Cho available HERE

KEY QUOTES:

Executive Director of the New York State Council on the Arts Erika Mallin said, “Over the past 20 years, the Bushwick Starr has become one of New York’s great cultural treasures. This new permanent home will further support our vital arts and culture sector to grow, to invent, and to thrive. Arts and culture capital projects like these strengthen their communities, create jobs, deliver more visitors to local businesses, and expand the rich artistic diversity of New York. We congratulate the Bushwick Starr team on this tremendous milestone and look forward to their continued innovation and dedication to their community.”

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "Investing in cultural institutions like the Bushwick Starr goes beyond supporting the arts—it's a catalyst for community growth and economic development. This new venue, with its expanded footprint and modern facility, will create jobs, provide educational opportunities, and serve as a creative hub for Bushwick and beyond. ESD is proud to support this project, which exemplifies how cultural spaces can be powerful drivers of New York's economic vitality and community well-being."

NYCREDC Co-Chairs Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, City University of New York Chancellor and William D. Rahm said, "The Bushwick Starr's new home demonstrates the transformative power of arts and culture in community development. By enhancing the theater's ability to produce innovative work, this project not only elevates artistic expression but also reinforces its role as a vital community anchor. The NYCREDC is excited to see how this space will inspire artists and audiences alike, and we’re proud to have been part of making this vision a reality."

Sue Kessler, Co-Founder of The Bushwick Starr said, “We are here to celebrate a dream coming true– through thoughtfulness & care, hard work & perseverance, imagination & faith, and most importantly, you. Our community is a powerful coalition. You not only stood by us throughout the last 4 years, you rolled up your sleeves and joined this effort to make a permanent home– for us, for the arts, for Bushwick, for New York– your support has been utterly transformative. Thank you for believing in this and in us. Thank you for building this dream together.” 

Noel Allain, Co-Founder of The Bushwick Starr said, “We’re finally able to say the words we’ve been longing to say for 4 long years:  Welcome to the new Bushwick Starr Theater!  What you’ll see inside is simple in its design, but thoughtfully crafted to best serve our artists, audiences, and community. Our fully accessible lobby will not only welcome audience members before shows, but will allow us to welcome you, our community, into the Starr whether you have a ticket or not. We can’t wait for you to start coming here because that’s what gives this building life and purpose- when we fill it with artists, audiences, friends, neighbors. What a gift to be able to welcome you in now.”