New co-working space opens for Southeast Queens creators

Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning hopes to foster community artists with its new Co-Work space. Photo courtesy of JCAL

By Victoria Merlino

The Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning is opening its new artist Co-Work space to assist creators and innovators with making their dreams a reality.

“This is a brand new project we launch in response to community artists’ voices and in a vision to be the incubator for local creators, artists, startups,” Cathy Hung, executive director of JCAL, told the Eagle via email.

JCAL, a multidisciplinary arts center founded in 1972, renovated its fifth floor space to give local artists four secured private working studios, four semi-private work desks, a shared work space, lounge and pantry area.

“The affordable Co-Work space aims to help emerging and new artmakers, cohorts and/or companies start their businesses while being an incubator for artists to share and work with their peers,” JCAL said in a statement about the space.

Currently, there are four artists in residence at the space: Rejin Leys, Okechukwu O. Ofiaeli, Nalani Williams and Vincent Wise.

The Co-Work space is a membership-based program, wrote Hung, and space is first come, first serve. A semi-private work desk is $120 per month, and a general membership to access the shared work space is $70 per month. To become a member, Hung said to call 718.658.7400 x 125.

To celebrate the launch, JCAL is hosting a grand opening on June 6 at 4 p.m., where the current resident artists will hold open studio sessions, so that visitors may see their work.