Then. Now. Next. featured on CBS News
This month, Brooklyn Arts Council was featured on CBS News in coverage of Then. Now. Next., spotlighting conversations with Distinguished Honorees, Fab 5 Freddy along with President + Executive Director, Rasu Jilani. The segment highlighted the evolution of Brooklyn’s creative community and BAC’s ongoing commitment to uplifting artists and cultural storytelling as part of their 60th Anniversary.
Then. Now. Next. serves as BAC60’s reflection on the evolution of Brooklyn Arts Council and the way it has shaped Brooklyn’s creative legacy over the past 60 years.
Then honors Fab 5 Freddy as a Distinguished Artist, recognizing his lasting impact on music, art, media, and cultural storytelling that helped define generations of creative expression in Brooklyn and beyond.
Now celebrates contemporary voices and changemakers actively shaping today’s cultural landscape, including Distinguished Artist Laylah Amatullah Barrayn and Community Champions Amy Schwartzman and Randi Berry, part of Safety Net Coalition whose work continues to strengthen and support Brooklyn’s arts ecosystem.
Next looks beyond the present and toward the future through the 2026 Creative Cohort, a collective of awardees and teaching artists representing the next generation of creative leaders. The cohort reflects BAC’s ongoing investment in artists who will continue building community, driving cultural conversations, and expanding what Brooklyn’s creative future can become for years to come.
Fab Five Freddy, Laylah Amatullah Barrayn, Rasu Jilani photographed by Shatimah Monae
Celebrating the 2026 Brooklyn Arts Awards
On May 19, Brooklyn Arts Council hosted a successful Brooklyn Arts Awards celebration as part of Brooklyn Arts Council’s 60th Anniversary, bringing together artists, supporters, and community leaders for an evening dedicated to honoring excellence in the arts at Brooklyn’s very own, Powerhouse Arts.
The evening was a beautiful reflection of Brooklyn’s creative spirit — from the BAC60 Power Hour fundraising moment featuring a wine tasting experience and bites from our brand partners Bed-Vyne Wine & Spirits and Aunts et Uncles to the space being blessed by members of our Cultural Heritage Advisory Group led by Chief Baba Neil Clarke and Clarivel Ruiz to the incredible performances, artists, grantees, funders, and community members who filled the room with such energy and purpose.
Throughout the celebration, guests experienced performances and artistic contributions from Flamenco y Sol and Raphael Brunn, Vanesa Alvarez, L Train Brass Band, Elsa Saade and Layale Chaker, Kelindah B., Ogemdi Ude, Theydy Bedbug, and the Park Slope Center for Successful Aging directed by Truth Bachman.
Music throughout the evening was curated by DJ A D A I R in addition to a jewelry-making workshop led by Latasha Sellers and her team. We also extend our gratitude to All Hands in Motion for providing ASL interpretation and helping ensure the celebration remained accessible and inclusive for all attendees.
We were especially proud to honor Distinguished Artists Fab 5 Freddy and Laylah Amatullah Barrayn, alongside Community Champions, Randi Berry and Amy Schwartzman, whose work continues to shape and uplift our communities in meaningful ways.
Since 1966, Brooklyn Arts Council has remained committed to supporting artists, amplifying diverse voices, and ensuring that creativity continues to thrive across every corner of the borough because we believe artists deserve support that meaningfully sustains their work and their impact on the community.
This year’s Brooklyn Arts Awards was a reminder of why artists cannot survive on symbolism alone. The cultural fabric of Brooklyn depends on real investment in the people, programs, and spaces that make this borough what it is.
As President and Executive Director, Rasu Jilani shared during the evening, “When artists thrive, New York City thrives. Brooklyn Arts Council’s 60th anniversary is not only a celebration of our history, but a reaffirmation of our commitment to investing in artists, cultural workers, and creative communities across Brooklyn.”
Announcing the 2026 Creative Cohort
This year, more than $1.16 million was funded across 222 awards, with awards ranging from $3,500–$10,000 towards our Creative Cohort and Teaching Artists.