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  1. Has flooding in Gowanus impacted you? Tell us your story.

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    We want to hear from you!

    Has flooding in Gowanus impacted you? We want to hear from you!

    Coming in Spring 2025, Tiffany Baker’s Dear Neighbor, project is a multi-site campaign and art showcase spotlighting the experiences of Gowanus residents impacted by flooding, depicted through experiential murals, audio recordings and abstracted portraits. The project aims to reflect how neighbors across the community care and support each other through a public, visual display of their stories.

    Sign up to share your story at recording sessions held at Van Alen Institute at the following times:

    Wednesdays, 3-6pm:
    January 15, 22, and 29

    Thursdays, 3-6pm:
    January 16 and 23

    Reserve your time here.

    Dear Neighbor, is part of our multiyear initiative Points of Promise, which creates public art and design tools that support civic engagement and foster connection among Gowanus residents in the midst of significant neighborhood redevelopment.

    Sign up to tell your story

  2. Designers: Let’s activate vacant storefronts together!

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    Designers: Let’s activate vacant storefronts together!

    Bond Street Bash, May 12, 2022. Photo: Cameron Blaylock

    Submissions are now closed.

    In Spring 2025, our Design Sprints program will partner with NYC’s Department of Small Business Services to explore the intersection between arts programming and economic development, with a focus on areas with high storefront vacancy. Design Sprints: Building Creative Capacity will help community-based development organizations (CBDOs) address storefront vacancy in creative ways by providing capacity-building, design support, and strategic planning. This program commences in late January, culminating in an activated storefront in Spring 2025.

    We’re currently seeking design advisors to assist one or more CBDO in an immediate storefront activation and/or a district-wide strategy on storefront activations. Design advisors may come from a variety of backgrounds including, but not limited to:

    • Graphic Design
    • Architecture
    • Fabrication
    • Urban Planning & Public Policy
    • Engineering
    • Lighting Design

    Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and matches will be made by the first week of February.

    Have questions? Contact Joseph Messana-Croly, Project Manager, at jmessanacroly@vanalen.org.

    Design Sprints: Building Creative Capacity is supported by the NYC Department of Small Business Services.