HeART Beat 2023: Choose Love

The Annual Queens Art a Catalyst for Change Culminating Event—the HeART Beat Festival—returns for the sixth time.

The 6th annual Heartbeat Festival was held on May 25th, 2023, at Black Spectrum Theater in Roy Wilkins Park, Queens, NYC. The Festival is produced by Thrive Collective in partnership with The Museum of The Moving Image and Black Spectrum Theater. 300 students from 6 participating Middle Schools in Queens experienced interactive visual art, Hip Hop dance, rap, digital media, theater and field day activities to celebrate the completion of an impactful Art a Catalyst for Change season. Art a Catalyst for Change is a city-wide program initiated by several NYC Council members and dozens of activists as a way to raise awareness and end gun violence through art.

“Art has the power to change the lives of our young people.”
Laurie Cumbo – Commissioner of New York City Department of Cultural Affairs

Special thanks to Dj Trase, The Dynamic Rockers, Black Spectrum Theater, The Museum of the Moving Image, Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers, R.H.Y.M.E, Speek Lyfe, IS 42, MS 193, The School of Leadership and Exploration, IS 72, IS 111Q, IS 204Q and BRIC media.

Video by BRIC Media.