Queens Rising, in partnership with Northwell Health/LIJ Forest Hills, has included a series of Arts and Healing panels - a series of interactive events designed to underscore the healing power of the arts as part of this June’s Queens Rising Initiative. These panels focus on enhancing well-being and addressing mental health through creative expression.

“Adding these panels enriches the cultural experience of Queens Rising’s third annual multidisciplinary arts initiative. These programs support our belief that the arts are more than entertainment and can impact people in ways that truly heal and provide solace.” 

-Jeff Rosenstock

Queens Rising is an annual celebration of the vibrant cultural tapestry of Queens, New York. Since its inception in 2022, this event has served as a catalyst for unity–bringing together artists, performers, and organizations–to showcase the borough's rich artistic heritage and to maximize opportunities for arts and culture to flourish in Queens. With support from its title sponsor, Northwell Health, Queens Rising has also presented an opportunity for artists, venues, and audiences to reflect on the importance of arts and culture for physical and emotional well-being. 

On May 20th, Northwell clinicians and Queens-based artists were joined by LaGuardia Community College students, faculty, and staff for an engaging panel, "Arts and Healing - Using the Arts to Improve Physical and Emotional Health," as part of the college’s Mental Health Awareness Week led by their Psychology Department. "Each person is capable of holding themselves through their own healing process, and that’s what art does," said panel participant Amanda Krische, a choreographer, writer, and herbalist.

Throughout June 2024, this reflection on the role that the arts play in health and well-being will continue in collaboration with the Queens Public Library. In Teatro SEA’s show "The Colors of Frida," presented at the Corona branch on June 1st and McGoldrick branch this upcoming June 22nd, patrons are inspired by the legendary painter Frida Kahlo's passion for art and self-expression, and her use of art to alleviate the physical ailments that affected her throughout her life. These events are free and open to the public.

Remaining Arts & Healing Panels for June:

Thursday, June 20, at 4pm: Arts & Healing: “The Healing Power of the Arts: A Conversation and Workshop” at Louis Armstrong House Museum

This event features health experts, artists, and songwriters discussing the benefits of music and the arts in mental and physical healing, disease prevention, and overall well-being. Attendees will learn about creativity's role in maintaining a healthy body, the arts' impact on healthy aging, and arts-based mental health interventions. The panel concludes with an interactive songwriting workshop led by an artist.

Saturday, June 22, at 1pm: Arts & Healing QPL Activation - The Colors of Frida at McGoldrick Library of QPL

A bilingual, one-woman show about the iconic Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, blending storytelling, music, visual arts, puppetry, and audience participation.

After the show, library patrons will engage with an enriching Arts and Healing hands-on activity! Inspired by Frida Kahlo's passion for art and self-expression, families are invited to create their own self-portraits or masks. Using colored pencils, markers, and vibrant paper, participants can showcase how they want the world to see them. This creative session encourages self-reflection and artistic exploration for all ages. 

Queens Rising creates a platform to share the multitude of cultural programs that abound in the borough. By concentrating marketing and promotional resources in June, the goal is to raise awareness of Queens' robust cultural offerings and introduce audiences to new venues and artists through a collective effort.

Remaining Queens Rising Performance Series and Line-Up:

Queens Scene Performance 3: Date: Wednesday, June 19th (Juneteenth) Location: Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning Reception: 7:30pm, Showtime: 8pm. Hosted and Curated by: Spoken Artist JRose Performers: JRose, Jerome Heka, Keys Will, Unique on Purpose, Divine Wordsmith

Queens Scene Performance 4: Date: Saturday, June 29th Location: Queens Botanical Garden Time: 1:30pm to 4pm Performers: Gina D'Soto, Jennah Vox, Queens Symphony Orchestra

Support for Queens Rising is provided by Title Sponsor, Northwell Health, Howard Gilman Foundation, The Kupferberg Family Foundation, Queens Economic Development Corporation, and the Kupferberg Center for the Arts.

From enthralling performances to captivating exhibitions, Queens Rising collaborates with numerous arts organizations, versatile venues, and galleries across the borough to present a rich tapestry of cultural events. 

Current collaborators include:

A Better Jamaica, AIMI Cultural Center, Alley Pond Environmental Center, Allure Art Studio, American Folk Art Museum, APAC, Art House Astoria, Art Retail Therapy, Arriba Arriba, Ashreynu, Astoria Film Festival, Astoria Park Alliance, Bayside Historical Society, Bayside Village BID, Bliss on Bliss Art Projects Bowne House Historical Society, Braata Productions, The Brick Wall Gallery at Bar Dalia, Center for the Women of New York, The Chocolate Factory, The Church-in-the-Gardens, Culture Lab LIC Dance Astoria, Dance Entropy/Green Space, Dancing Classrooms, Diverse Street Initiative Empanadas Cafe, Espresso 77, FitzgeraldArt, Flushing BID, Flushing Town Hall, Forest Hills Choir, Forest Hills Stadium, Forest Park Trust, Friends of Maple Grove at The Center at Maple Grove, Friends of the Crocheron & John Golden Park, Glow Community Center, The Godwin-Ternbach Museum, Greater Astoria Historical Society, Indo-American Arts and Cultural Forum, Jackson Heights Beautification Group Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, Juneteenth in Queens, King Manor Museum, Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York, Inc., Kupferberg Center for the Arts, LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, Lavender Laughs NYC, Lewis Latimer House Museum, Long Island City Partnership, Louis Armstrong House Museum, Make Music New York, Maspeth Squash, MoMA PS1, Museum of the Moving Image, Musica Reginae Productions, New York Hall of Science, NYC Department of Transportation, Oratorio Society of Queens, Inc., The Poppenhusen Institute, QED, The Queens Borough President’s Office, Queens Botanical Garden, Queens Chamber of Commerce, Queens Council on the Arts, Queensboro Dance Festival, Queens Economic Development Corporation, Queens Historical Society, Queens Museum, Queens Night Market, Queens Public Library, Queens Theatre, Queens Together, Queens Tourism Council, Queens Underground International Black and Brown Film Festival and The Artist Market NYC Live, Queens World Film Festival, Queens Zoo, Rincon Criollo, Riders Alliance, RISE Rockaway, School of Rock Queens, Socrates Sculpture Park, Son Jarocho NY, South East Queens Artist Alliance, South Queens Women’s March, Sovereign Markets, Stone Circle Theatre, Studio 41, Sunnyside Shines, Thalia Spanish Theatre, Inc., The Garage Art Center, Inc., Theatre Beyond Broadway, Underground Spade, Urban Vegan Roots

For more information on Queens Rising and a full schedule of events, please visit queensrising.nyc

ABOUT QUEENS RISING

Queens Rising stands as an annual beacon of cultural celebration, dedicated to illuminating the vibrant tapestry of Queens, New York. Since its inception in 2022, this event has served as a catalyst for unity, bringing together artists, performers, and organizations to showcase the borough's rich artistic heritage. It acts as a catalyst for collaboration, connecting artists, venues, and businesses to maximize opportunities for arts and culture to flourish in Queens. Through these connections, pathways for creativity and innovation thrive. At Queens Rising, the belief in the transformative power of art and culture to inspire, connect, and uplift communities is steadfast. Individuals are invited to join in celebrating the diverse cultural landscape of Queens and shaping a brighter future through creativity and collaboration.

ABOUT NORTHWELL HEALTH

Northwell Health is New York State’s largest healthcare provider and private employer, with 21 hospitals, about 900 outpatient facilities and more than 12,000 affiliated physicians. We care for over two million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Our 85,000 employees – 18,900 nurses and 4,900 employed doctors, including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners – are working to change health care for the better. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We're training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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For more information on Queens Rising, please contact Alena Joyiens or Rebecca Shapiro at Shore Fire Media , queensrisingpr@shorefire.com