A Year of Creativity, Community & Connection | September 2026 – June 2027

For 35 years, BAX | Brooklyn Arts Exchange has been a home where artists, young people, families, and neighbors come together to create, learn, and build community. As we celebrate our 35th Anniversary Season, we mark this milestone with a yearlong series of public events that reflect the full breadth of BAX’s work as a multigenerational arts incubator—nurturing artistic practice, centering community, and advancing racial and cultural justice.

Each month of our Anniversary Season will spotlight a different part of the BAX community while celebrating the relationships, creativity, and shared experiences that have shaped BAX over the past three and a half decades.

September | Community Kickoff

We launch the anniversary season with our annual Open House, Sunday, September 13 featuring free classes, family activities, performances, and community celebrations. Alumni, teaching artists, students, and neighbors come together to kick off the year. Join us at Old Stone House from 9:30AM–11:30AM, followed by free sample fall youth classes in the BAX Building from 12PM–2:30PM. See the schedule and learn more!

October | Arts Education & School Partnerships

Celebrate the impact of BAX’s long-standing partnerships with the Brooklyn New School/P.S. 146 and NYC public schools through a documentary screening and community conversation about the importance of arts education for young people. Join us, Tuesday, October 27 at 6pm at 610 Henry Street Auditorium.

November | Artists & Alumni

Current Artists in Residence and BAX alumni reconnect through artist talks, workshops, and creative exchange, highlighting BAX’s ongoing role in supporting artists across every stage of their careers. Join us November 14 & 15 for BAX’s Artist Workshop Weekend.

December | Queer Creativity & Community

A special performance celebrates BAX’s Practice Lab Drag program and gender-expansive programming, honoring queer artistic expression, joy, and belonging across generations.

January | Youth & Alumni Mentorship

Former BAX Performance Workshop Ensemble students and teaching artists return to lead workshops and share stories with current participants, celebrating the lasting impact of creative mentorship.

February | YouthWorks & Arts Education

Celebrate more than 25 years of YouthWorks with performances by young artists and professional development opportunities that share BAX’s multigenerational and community-centered approach to arts education.

March | Artist in Residence Open Studio & Anniversary Celebration!

Artists in Residence have their first Open Studio. Celebrate BAX’s artist community with a special BAX Birthday Toast event!  

April | Creative Process in Action

Celebrate more than 25 years of BAX’s Teen Artist Exchange with teen performing artists and multigenerational workshops.

May | Artist Showcases

Public performances and exhibitions feature artists supported through BAX’s Space Grant residency, alongside special community arts events celebrating creativity across generations.

June | Pride & Looking Forward

The season culminates during Pride Month with original performances from our youth Performance Workshop Ensembles and BAX’s EmergeNYC program and the vibrant communities that continue to shape BAX’s future.

Join the Celebration

Throughout the year, there will be many ways to participate—attend an event, reconnect as an alum, introduce someone new to BAX, volunteer, or contribute to our People-Powered Nurturing Emerging Artists (NEA) Fund in support of the next 35 years.

Together, we’ll celebrate 35 years of artistic practice, community, and creative possibility—and help build the future of BAX!