Celebrate Arts Festival
Celebrating Older Adults in our Community
CelebratEArts
An Annual Arts Festival Celebrating Older Adults in our Community
May 1 – May 31
Educational Alliance invites you to experience the vibrant creativity and cultural contributions of older New Yorkers during the 5th Annual CelebratEArts Festival, a month-long arts festival held in May in honor of Older Americans Month.
This milestone year continues the celebration of creativity, expression, and connection through the arts. Our theme, The Power of Belonging, invites reflection on lived experience, creative process, and the stories that connect us.
The festival brings together five Educational Alliance sites, including the 14th Street Y, Co-Op Village NORC, Sirovich Center for Balanced Living, Weinberg Center for Balanced Living, and Project ORE. Throughout the month, you can enjoy a diverse array of gallery exhibits, performances, ceramic and craft sales, and intergenerational programs.
CelebratEArts provides a dynamic platform for older adults to share their art, express themselves, and connect with community.
CelebratEArts May 2026 Schedule
Week 1
ART GALLERIES
Friday, May 1 – Sunday, May 31
UNMASKING BELONGING: AN ENSEMBLE OF ROLES
14th Street Y, Lobby
Monday – Friday | 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Saturday – Sunday | 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
This exhibition emerges from a creative arts therapy program engaging older adult artists in visual and performing arts. Through role theory, artists explore identity across painting, mixed media, improvisation, and drama, reflecting on past, present, and evolving selves. Masks serve as metaphor, revealing and reshaping identity in community.
OUR STORIES, OUR SPACE
Manny Cantor Center, Jewish Communal Fund Gallery (Lobby)
& Rubenstein Gallery (M Level)
Monday – Friday | 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday – Sunday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
An exhibition highlighting artwork created by members of the Weinberg Center and Co-op Village NORC. The collection features a wide range of artistic expression, including origami, watercolor, acrylic, drawing, Chinese beading, handbuilding, knitting, collage, ink blot, poetry, art therapy, AI music, and more. Created by artists aging in place, these works reflect lived experience, ongoing creativity, and the spaces we shape—and are shaped by—through art and community.
WHERE WE GATHER, WE BELONG
Sirovich Center for Balanced Living, Auditorium & Gallery Hallway
Monday – Friday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
An exhibition highlighting artwork created by members of the Sirovich Center and Project ORE. The collection showcases diverse artistic expressions, including ceramics, mosaics, jewelry, and more. Made in shared spaces of creation, these works symbolize connection and the communities we create through making, presence, and creative practice.
14Y GALLERY RECEPTION
Friday, May 1 | 4:00 – 5:00 PM
14th Street Y, Lobby
Join us for the Unmasking Belonging: An Ensemble of Roles Gallery Reception to engage with the artists, explore their work, and enjoy light refreshments. Celebrate the creativity, reflection, and evolving identities expressed through each piece.
Week 2
CRAFT SALE
Wednesday, May 6 | 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Manny Cantor Center, Lobby
Find the perfect, heartfelt gift for Mother’s Day as you browse a diverse selection of Chinese beading, unique crafts, sewing, and more, all handcrafted by members of the Weinberg Center.
JEWELRY & KNITTING SALE
Thursday, May 7 | 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Manny Cantor Center, Lobby
Discover exquisite handmade jewelry crafted by artists from Co-Op Village NORC. Explore unique necklaces, bracelets, and earrings designed to make anyone feel truly special.
CERAMICS & ART SALE
Friday, May 8 & Saturday, May 9 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sirovich Center for Balanced Living, Auditorium
Shop unique ceramics, mosaics, paintings, and jewelry, all handmade by talented community artisans.
Week 3
MOTHER’S DAY CONCERT
Monday, May 11 | 1:30 – 2:30 PM
Manny Cantor Center, 6th Floor Community Room
Celebrate Mother’s Day with a beautiful afternoon of Chinese music, featuring Jiayi He on harmonica and Shixiang “Cynthia” Wang on piano. Presented by Concerts in Motion, this special performance brings the healing power of music to our community sparking connection, conversation, and joy. As featured in The New York Times and Sing Tao Daily.
MCC COMMUNITY PROM
Wednesday, May 13 | 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Manny Cantor Center, Basketball Court on Level CR
Enter the enchanted forest! Enjoy music, dancing, activities, treats, raffles, and more as fairytale fun brings generations together for an unforgettable afternoon. Costumes encouraged to add to the magic!
MCC GALLERY RECEPTION
Thursday, May 14 | 1:30 – 2:30 PM
Manny Cantor Center, Rubenstein Gallery (M Level)
Join us for the Our Stories, Our Space Gallery Reception where you can engage with the artists, explore their work, and enjoy light refreshments. Celebrate the creativity, lived experience, and artistic expression reflected in each piece.
1940S RADIO HOUR WORKSHOP WITH AHHA!BROADWAY
Friday, May 15 | 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Sirovich Center for Balanced Living, Auditorium
Join us and travel back in time! Experience a ‘radio show’ performed using transcriptions made from the original 1940’s broadcast recordings, along with live music and sound effects. This project is made possible in part with funds from CitizensNYC, which provides financial support to New York City neighborhood leaders who are making their communities more connected, resilient, and healthier.
Week 4
PUPPETRY PERFORMANCE WITH LOCO7
Wednesday, May 20 | 1:30 PM
14th Street Y, Theater
Presented by Studies in Puppet Form Workshop, a series which explores the intersection of puppetry, movement, and storytelling to enhance body awareness and creative expression. Led by community partner Loco7 Dance Puppet Theatre, participants will present a multidisciplinary performance, followed by a talk-back on their creative process.
Week 5
Advanced registration is strongly encouraged for the Mainstage Showcase. Tickets may be reserved beginning May 1 through the Theater Desk, at the front desks of the Weinberg or Sirovich Centers, by email at sirovich@14streety.org or by phone at 646-395-4534.
MAINSTAGE SHOWCASE
Friday, May 29 | 3:00 – 5:30 PM
14th Street Y, Theater
Experience a vibrant lineup of acting, singing, dancing, storytelling, comedy, and music, performed by older New Yorkers and our Ageless Arts intergenerational classes. A reception with live music and light refreshments will follow in the 14Y Lobby.
MAINSTAGE SHOWCASE
Saturday, May 30 | 3:00 – 5:30 PM
14th Street Y, Theater
Experience a vibrant lineup of acting, singing, dancing, storytelling, comedy, and music, performed by older New Yorkers and our Ageless Arts intergenerational classes. A reception with live music and light refreshments will follow in the 14Y Lobby.
Educational Alliance Locations:
14th Street Y
344 East 14th Street
Co-op Village NORC
465 Grand Street
Manny Cantor Center
197 East Broadway
Sirovich Center for Balanced Living
331 East 12th Street
Weinberg Center for Balanced Living
197 East Broadway
Theater Desk Hours and Locations:
TICKET TUESDAYS | 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Sirovich Center, Lobby | 331 East 12th Street
THEATER THURSDAYS | 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Manny Cantor Center, WCBL 6th Floor Rooftop | 197 East Broadway