Photo courtesy of Flushing Town Hall
The Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts (FCCA), also known as Flushing Town Hall, celebrated its 45th anniversary at its Sapphire Gala fundraiser on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
The event, held at the Flushing Town Hall Theatre, celebrated the arts institution’s ongoing commitment to arts equity and supporting Queens’ diverse creative voices and audiences through performances, exhibitions, grantmaking, and professional development opportunities for artists.
The gala honored three individuals and organizations for their significant contribution to Queen’s cultural scene-Luchia Meihua Lee, Executive Director of the Taiwanese American Arts Council (TAAC), Abha Bhatnagar Roy, Founding Director of Srijan Dance Center and a Flushing Town Hall Master Teaching Artist; and the Queens Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The evening included a cocktail reception, live performances, and awards presentations.
Founded in 1979, Flushing Town Hall has provided an ongoing platform for emerging and established artists to showcase their talent in the borough’s cultural scene. The organization’s programs aim to celebrate global artists while keeping the arts accessible to all.
Ellen Kodadek, Executive and Artistic Director of Flushing Town Hall highlighted the significance of the milestone anniversary and the organization’s expanding role in the community. “Flushing Town Hall has thrived for 45 years, thanks to the vision and generosity of our patrons, donors, funders, and elected officials,” Kodadek said. “We are grateful to all who have believed in our mission across the decades and especially thankful for this year’s gala sponsors and honorees for their leadership.”
Kodadek further emphasized FCCA’s impact on the local arts scene. “Last year alone, we distributed over $430,000 in funding to local artists and small arts organizations, thanks to support from the New York State Council on the Arts and the Howard Gilman Foundation. The State has also contracted with us to do a cultural mapping of Queens,” she added.
The Gala received significant backing from various sponsors, including Presenting Sponsors Veronica Y. Tsang and the AIA Queens Chapter, as well as Premier Sponsors Howard Graf, Kathleen Donovan, and Graf & Lewent Architects.