The Arts in Queens is getting a makeover! With over 25 years of experience in the non-profit sector, successful arts innovator Susan Agin now leads a new arts organization that reimagines how the borough’s distinct communities access its cultural programming and arts services.
The Queens Culture & Arts Network (QCAN) is a full-service arts organization that ensures the arts have a vital presence in every community. A subsidiary of the long-established Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens (VBGCQ), QCAN is the organization’s latest initiative. Just over a year ago, it established the Sky Farm LIC, an urban agriculture learning hub.
QCAN creates art experiences that cater to the unique needs and characteristics of each community it serves. The organization provides a wide range of programs and services for individuals of all ages, aimed at educating and celebrating the borough’s diverse cultures. Its “menu of services” includes distinctive workshops, pop-up art exhibitions, borough-wide concerts and shows, arts-in-school residencies, mentorship programs for high school juniors and seniors aspiring to gain admission to competitive art colleges, career coaching for the professional artist, neighborhood beautification murals, and free park events. “The Arts are a vibrant and diverse field that cannot be reduced to a one-size-fits-all approach. Each community has unique cultural and artistic needs and deserves tailored experiences. It’s your community, your arts,” stated Susan Agin, Executive Director of QCAN.
“Through QCAN, individuals discover and engage with the arts in their local neighborhoods. As the only arts organization within Queens that facilitates such accessibility, we are highlighting the crucial role of community engagement in the arts.”
“In the wake of the COVID pandemic, companies (like Instacart, Amazon, and Uber Eats) have successfully recognized and adapted to evolving consumer behaviors. The arts have also undergone significant changes. QCAN is poised to deliver the arts in a bold and transformative way,” said Costa Constantinides, Chief Executive Officer, of Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens.
“Susan Agin is a true visionary, and her talents will be instrumental as Queens Culture & Arts Network continues to adapt and evolve to the changing world. I look forward to working with Susan in this new capacity and am excited to see all she will accomplish. Queens Culture & Arts Network is a fantastic organization doing great things, and I am proud to have allocated $17,000 to the organization in this year’s budget. Our successful partnership stems from QCAN’s expertise in designing arts programming that reflects the unique characteristics of the communities they serve. Under Susan’s leadership, I am confident that QCAN, and the communities they impact – will thrive.” stated Council Member James F. Gennaro.
Council Member Vickie Paladino states: “The Queens Culture & Arts Network is one of my favorite organizations – the events they provide are some of the best in the district. Between the excellent collaboration with my office and the talent available, every year I am floored by the caliber of concerts we host together. QCAN’s expertise in designing arts programming gives them the ability to perfectly reflect the unique characteristics of the communities they serve, and I have witnessed that firsthand in District 19! I am so grateful to everyone at QCAN for working with my office to put these events together, and I’m looking forward to our two upcoming concerts in the new year, and many more in the future with QCAN!”
“I want to congratulate Susan and the Queens Culture & Arts Network on the establishment of this wonderful organization, which I am confident will enrich and strengthen communities across Queens for years to come,” said Councilmember Sandra Ung. “Since I took office, I’ve had the pleasure of working with the team behind the Queens Culture & Arts Network to bring vibrant and engaging programming to District 20. One standout initiative has been Concerts in the Park, which brings together families from across Flushing for a joyful day of music in our green spaces. I look forward to continuing our partnership in the year ahead, including collaborating on a mural project to beautify our commercial corridors.”
“Providing fantastic music and shows is a key pillar of my office’s commitment to bringing back tax dollars for the community through exceptional entertainment. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Susan Agin for years and look forward to continuing our successful partnership with QCAN to deliver quality programming for our constituents” state Council Member Robert F. Holden.
“The neighborhoods of Jackson Heights, Elmhurst and Woodside that I represent are some of the most ethnically diverse places in the world. The Queens Culture and Arts Network will ensure that our borough’s rich arts and culture scene reflects that diversity. I am proud to support QCAN and look forward to partnering with them on engaging and enriching arts and culture programming for our community,” said Council Member Shekar Krishnan, District 25.
Agin is also the Director of Arts Programming for Variety, inspiring children and teens to discover their passions and cultivate their futures through diverse youth development programs. Variety is about to embark on a redevelopment of its building that will include a state-of-the-art 1500-seat arena and 200- seat black box theatre which will become the largest venue of its kind in Western Queens.
