On October 15, 2024, Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts (FCCA), a.k.a Flushing Town Hall celebrated its 45th year enriching Queens’ vibrant cultural landscape at its Sapphire Gala fundraiser. The event commemorated FCCA’s long-standing commitment to fostering arts equity and supporting the diverse audiences and creative voices of Queens through performances and exhibitions, grantmaking, and professional development opportunities for artists.
The gala honored three distinguished individuals and organizations for their significant contributions to Queens' cultural landscape: Luchia Meihua Lee, Executive Director of the Taiwanese American Arts Council (TAAC); Abha Bhatnagar Roy, Founding Director of Srijan Dance Center and a Flushing Town Hall Master Teaching Artist; and the Queens Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The festive evening featured a cocktail reception, live performances, and an awards presentation.
Since its founding in 1979, Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts (FCCA), a.k.a Flushing Town Hall has been a vital force in the borough’s cultural scene, providing a platform for both emerging and established artists.
This year’s gala supporters included Presenting Sponsors Veronica Y. Tsang and the AIA Queens Chapter; Premier Sponsors Howard Graf, Kathleen Donovan, and Graf & Lewent Architects; and many others.
“Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts (FCCA), aka Flushing Town Hall has thrived for 45 years, thanks to the vision and generosity of our patrons, donors, funders, and elected officials. We are grateful to all who have believed in our mission across the decades, and especially thankful for this year’s gala sponsors and Honorees for their leadership. Many know us as Flushing Town Hall, and we are a proud Arts Council for Queens as Flushing Council on Culture and the Arts. Last year alone, we distributed over $430,000 in funding to local artists and small arts organizations, thanks to support from the New York State Council on the Arts and the Howard Gilman Foundation. The State has also contracted with us to do a cultural mapping of Queens,” said Ellen Kodadek, Executive and Artistic Director of Flushing Town Hall.
