Kupferberg Center for the Arts (KCA) is the largest multi-disciplinary arts complex in Queens, named “Best place to visit” by Lonely Planet. With performances by world-class artists in our on-campus venues; regional and local talent in our off-site neighborhood performances; and professionally-produced shows by Queens College’s students and faculty, KCA’s mission is to provide high quality, accessible and affordable cultural attractions to the Queens College community and the borough’s 2.3 million residents.

Artists and performers who have taken the stage here over the years include Jerry Seinfeld, David Bowie, Piano Guys, Patti LaBelle, Johnny Mathis, Victor Manuelle, Cesar Millan, El Gran Combo, and many more. Our legacy of producing high-impact programs such as the  Louis Armstrong’s Wonderful World Festival, which was a day-long celebration of Satchmo’s legacy in Flushing Meadows Corona Park with performances by Ms. Lauryn Hill, Ozomatli, Dr. John, and other jazz and world music legends. Our annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  commemoration celebrates the life and legacy of Dr. King, and recognizes the work of notable members of the African-American communities of Queens with a live performance. Live at the Gantries is a free summer concert series presenting emerging local artists at Gantry State Park in Long Island City, while our Queens Borough President’s Office summer concert series occurs in parks throughout the Borough. Accelerating the Arts programs provide arts education programming for schoolchildren in grades K-12. Also included within this initiative is Revelations, arts exposure performances and The Jazz & Justice Project, a middle school music residency program. Brand new after-school residencies in music, dance, and visual art — called The Mosaic Project — have brought international artists to school communities for hands-on arts learning. KCA administers and oversees the CUNY Dance Initiative, a residency program that offers rehearsal and performance space to NYC-based dance companies on City University of New York campuses in all five boroughs.

Kupferberg Center and its affiliate entities were founded on the principle that all people and all communities should have access to high-quality, affordable, and accessible arts entertainment and education. As such, Kupferberg Center is committed to locate and address any instances of implicit or explicit bias and to help advance social and racial justice by:

— Presenting diverse programs and performances that amplify the voices of artists of all cultural and national backgrounds.

— Develop initiatives led by artists of color and artists who have a successful track-record of working collaboratively with communities of color that actively address issues of social and racial injustice.

— Collaborating with partner arts organizations that share our vision to advance social justice in our borough and city-wide.

We are convinced that a united front to achieve racial equality will lead to much-needed and long-overdue social changes, and we are excited to work with artists, our audiences and partners, and the Queens College community to help foster this transformation.

2022-23 Annual Report

2023-24 Season Brochure