Spring is a time of new growth and new beginnings. In Washington Square Park, it’s also when in-Park programs resume, filling the days (and Park!) with music, dancing, and laughter. Since 2016, WSPC has provided funding in the form of small grants ー$500-$2,000ー to help support community organizations and local arts groups who have built a strong relationship with the Park and Village neighbors. The Conservancy has provided over $24,000 in funding since the program began. 

Performance by Theater for the New City, summer 2019. Photo by John Eng.

This season has been undeniably different from previous years. Due to the PAUSE and social distancing restrictions, some Park favorites that have been around for years have not been able to make it outside. And while it’s unclear what the rest of the summer will hold, it’s likely that even more events will have to find creative alternatives to an in-Park display. But that doesn’t make these organizations any less essential, or any less a part of the fabric of Washington Square Park. That’s why WSPC committed to funding our Community Arts Grantees, regardless of their ability to program in the Park this season. 

A total of nine organizations were awarded nearly $14,000 in grants for the 2020 season: The Washington Square Music Festival; Dances for a Variable Population; Films on the Green; New York Laughs; Street Lab; the Village Trip; the Washington Square Park Folk Festival; Theater for the New City; and new this year, Children’s Museum of the Arts. These organizations offer a wide range of programming, from musical and dance performances to foreign film screenings and comedy acts, and activities for children to expand their horizons.

“I am overcome,” said Peggy Friedman of the Washington Square Music Festival when she was informed of the $2,000 grant the Conservancy provided. The Music Festival would have celebrated its 62nd year performing in Washington Square Park in June. But COVID didn’t stop the Festival from providing Parkies with beautiful music. Instead of in-Park performances, the Music Festival coordinated the creation of four spectacular recorded performances, with a new video coming out each Tuesday. One benefit of video versus live performances? You can rewatch them all at your own convenience! All videos are available here. 

The Music Festival isn’t the only Grantee to take their offerings online. Dances for A Variable Population has an entire slate of Zoom classes for movers and shakers of all ages. Films on the Green has rolled out their “At Home” series, presenting weekly curated recommendations of films to watch at home inspired by one of the festival’s past editions. Grantees whose programs would normally be scheduled for later in the summer are waiting to see if they can move forward, but we’ve already begun working with Theater for the New City to coordinate a virtual offering instead. 

“It will be a new normal,” says Leslie Davol, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Street Lab, an organization which creates engaging programs for public spaces and has set up a library and draw station in the Park’s NW corner the past six years. “Our mission is to bring people together in their communities. That’s going to have to look different, since social distancing will likely continue even after the quarantine lifts. But our programs are going to be more essential than ever, people are really craving that human connection we help foster.” 

Street Labs DRAW NYC pop-up studio, summer 2019. Courtesy of Street Labs

We’re looking forward to the time when we can all be back outside together. While we’re missing some of our favorite programs this season, we’ve found other ways to stay connected and enjoy them from inside. And when the PAUSE lifts and we start to recover, WSPC’s commitment to our Arts Grantees helps ensure that the events you love will return to the Park for many seasons to come.