Community Development & Engagement

Recent Projects

Another Justice Mixtape. Parrish Art Museum & The Watermill Center. 2022. A generative multidisciplinary community workshop in partnership with For Freedoms that explored local issues of conservation and encouraged participants to be actively engaged in political conversation.

Art Quest. The Watermill Center. 2022-2024. Self-guided tours of The Center’s indoor and outdoor collection were presented in a game-based educational format, allowing for independent explorations of global art in a casual setting.

Community Day. The Watermill Center. 2022-2023. Community Day began as an open-house. The afternoon featured the work of The Center’s alumni curated throughout its property, providing the public the chance to experience the grounds in the same manner artists do: as a space to explore and get inspired. The program was expanded to create awareness of the greater local arts scene and highlight The Center’s year-round partnerships. Over two dozen cultural organizations from the East End were represented with informational booths curated throughout The Center’s 10 acre campus, interspersed with performances and installations by local artists and alumni. The event encouraged cross-pollination between audiences of participating organizations, expanding each individual’s awareness of the breadth and diversity of their surrounding community.

Community Fellows. The Watermill Center. 2022-2024. An advisory board of local artists and community members that acted as ambassadors, docents, and volunteers for The Center.

English Language Learning Project. The Watermill Center. 2024. The English Language Learning Project was created for high-school students who are non-native English speakers to learn about diversity in American culture through art, while reinforcing English grammar and vocabulary lessons they are learning in school. The program empowered students to tell their migration stories to the United States through artistic explorations reflective of their cultural identities, as well as the creation of a short documentary about their journey. The project included written and spoken English components to reinforce their ELL education.

Healing Arts Programs. The Watermill Center. 2022-Present. Healing Arts is a monthly series of workshops and guided meditations that explores the intersection of art and wellness, offering a new way to engage with the act of creative expression. A rotating roster of artists and wellness professionals developed programming that focused on an intentional and spiritual approach to art appreciation and the artistic process. Teaching Artists designed workshops and meditations to highlight The Center’s eclectic art collection and curated gardens, using the principles of the Slow Art practice to take a considered approach to art appreciation.

In Process. The Watermill Center. 2022-2024. A year-round open studio series, providing the public the chance to explore the studios of The Center’s international artists-in-residence and learn how artists from across the globe develop their practice. The program allowed artists to share their work midway through their residency, enabling them to experiment with and present their work in a low-impact public setting.

Open Library Hours. The Watermill Center. 2022-2024. A weekly program that opened The Center’s collection of over 8,000 titles for the public to peruse and enjoy. The program invited the public to experience the on-site library in the same manner as its artists-in-residence: as a research library, a source of inspiration, and as a chance to learn about the world around them.

Viewpoints. The Watermill Center. 2022-2024. The Center’s existing lecture series was reimagined through a “Meet Your Neighbor” lens, featuring local activists, artists, architects, and cultural groups across The East End to highlight the diverse offerings in the local community. An emphasis was placed on featuring indigenous speakers from the local Shinnecock Nation.

Vitality Arts. The Watermill Center. 2024. An ongoing series of programs and workshops designed for seniors and veterans to engage in the artistic process, expand their social network, and reignite their creative passions.