Bronx River Art Center (BRAC) - A home for creativity, community, and opportunity here in the Bronx.

 

Dear Friends of BRAC,   As 2025 comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on what an extraordinary and deeply meaningful six months it has been since I joined Bronx River Art Center as Executive Director. Every day, I’m reminded that BRAC is more than an arts center, it’s a home for creativity, community, and opportunity here in the Bronx.  This year, we saw remarkable growth and resilience:  Growing Participation: This year, more Bronx residents than ever have joined us for classes, exhibitions, festivals, and community events -nearly twice as many as last year- serving almost 5,000 people.. Every student, family, and visitor adds to the vibrancy and energy of BRAC. A Community Gathering Place: BRAC has become a welcoming hub for the Bronx, offering free space to local civic groups and affordable space to other organizations. Our doors are open not just for art, but for connection, conversation, and collaboration across the community.  Our MSCreate program offers free after-school arts training to middle school students, helping them build portfolios and confidence for high school admissions.  Our Teen Project Studio guides young adults toward creative careers through mentorship and hands-on design, digital, and environmental arts projects.  Our Freshwater Fridays brings students and families together to learn about the Bronx River through environmental art and science.  Our Bronx River Sounds Festival and year-round exhibitions brought music, performance, and visual art to our community in new and inspiring ways.

We’ve also seen BRAC through a leadership transition, strengthened our team, and expanded partnerships with schools and community organizations across the borough — all while navigating the lingering impacts of reduced government funding and rising operational costs.



Yet, even as BRAC continues to grow, we face urgent challenges. Our boiler and elevator need repairs to ensure our facility remains safe and accessible. And our small but dedicated staff needs reinforcement to sustain our programs, engage more youth, and manage the high demand for affordable arts education.

That’s why we’re launching our 2025 Year-End Campaign to raise $25,000 by December 31st to:



• Repair and maintain critical building infrastructure, including our elevator and boiler
  
• Support, retain and expand our teaching artists, core staff and programming
  
• Keep our after-school and weekend arts programs free or low-cost for Bronx families
  

Your contribution — whether $25, $250, or $2,500 — directly supports young artists finding their voices, teens building creative futures, and families discovering the joy of art close to home.

This holiday season, I invite you to help keep BRAC strong for the thousands of Bronx residents who rely on our programs. Donate online here: https://givebutter.com/supportbrac  Or Mail a Check made out to Bronx River Art Center PO Box 5002, Bronx, NY 10460  Your generosity ensures that creativity, opportunity, and hope continue to flourish in our community.  With heartfelt thanks and warm wishes for a beautiful holiday season!

Akia Squitieri,  Executive Director Bronx River Art Center