In New York City the spotlight often falls on the city’s iconic museums, large theaters, and well-endowed institutions. Yet, there is another set of cultural stewards whose contributions remain under the radar—small, neighborhood-based, culturally-focused nonprofits like Socrates Sculpture Park, the Laundromat Project, Recess Art and many more. Operating with far fewer resources but an abundance of dedication, especially in times of significant social, cultural, and political upheavals, these organizations provide New York City with invaluable cultural, educational, and civic services, ensuring that art, nature, and community engagement are accessible across all five boroughs.
In the case of Socrates, the park’s history mirrors the resilience of countless nonprofits. For nearly 40 years, Socrates has been transformed by artists and community members from a neglected landfill in Long Island City into a thriving urban sanctuary where public art meets environmental activism. With limited funding and no endowment to cushion its journey and working within its constraints as a city-owned property, Socrates strives to meet our city’s most pressing needs—creating a climate-resilient space where art, nature, and community thrive together while serving as a site of investigation and interrogation of ecological concerns through art and creative expression. As climate change reshapes our urban environment, the Park has become a vital model of climate-conscious land management, showing how small but committed organizations can lead the charge in ecological stewardship. This spring, Socrates will undergo a restoration of its eroded shoreline, which was damaged in Superstorm Sandy when floodwaters overwhelmed and engulfed the Park. Art programming, for which the organization is renowned, will be shifted for two years to accommodate the work conducted by the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation.
