ABOUT WATERWORKS

Our signature commissioning program, WaterWorks, was created to identify, cultivate, and nurture the talents of visionary artists of color – ranging from artists that are just emerging in the field to artists who have well-established careers. Our role is, by intention, to shine a light on these artists and to light the path on their road to artistic achievement. Through WaterWorks, we provide critical support and a creative home.

WaterWorks Established Artists

WaterWorks serves as the umbrella for all Harlem Stage commissioned and produced work, which is then premiered at our venue, the Harlem Stage Gatehouse. It is designed to provide visionary artists with critical support to create new, innovative and socially significant work and engage our community through residency, humanities and educational activities over a 1-3 year period. Through WaterWorks, we serve as a creative home to artists and affirm our role as a catalyst, conduit and incubator of ideas, we also assert our position as a presenter and producer of significant work that is relevant locally, nationally and internationally.

Artists commissioned through our WaterWorks Program, include Bill T. Jones, Tania Leon, Roger Guenveur Smith, Sekou Sundiata, Deirdre Murray, Carl Hancock Rux, Vijay Iyer, Mike Ladd, Kyle Abraham, Robert Glasper, Stew, Meshell Ndegeocello, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah aka Chief Adjuah, Imani Uzuri, Jason Diakité, Tamar-kali, and Ambrose Akinmusire,

WATERWORKS EMERGING ARTISTS

For nearly 30 years, Harlem Stage’s early career commissioning program, formerly Fund for New Work (FFNW), has provided commissioning grants for creating new work at different stages of development by a diverse body of 5-6 early-career artists of color. Now, our WaterWorks Emerging Artists program will continue this tradition for years to come. We will continue to commission diverse and exciting artists and equip them with the knowledge and resources they need for their careers to blossom. Our WaterWorks Emerging Artists will have access to mentors, rehearsal space, production, and administrative support while creating and fleshing out their projects from inception to completion. True to the mission of Harlem Stage, the selected visionary artists and their works will continue to push boundaries, expand their chosen art forms, and examine the status quo.