Video produced by Tony Horn / BRIC Arts Media for NYC Council 

The 7th Annual HeART Beat Festival returned to Roy Wilkins Park in Queens on May 29, 2024. Middle school students painted murals, designed video games, experienced virtual reality, break danced, freestyle rapped, competed at drama games and so much more. Thrive Collective collaborated with Museum of the Moving Image, Black Spectrum Theatre, Speek Lyfe Movement, and Kids Breakin’ League to produce the festival as the Queens culminating event for six middle schools participating in the NYC Council’s “Art A Catalyst for Change” anti-gun violence initiative. The art festival / field day offered eight activity centers in different art zones named for community leaders impacted by gun violence.

Thank you Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, DCLA Commissioner Laurie Cumbo, and the the NYC Council Queens Delegation for trusting us to celebrate the initiative with the great students of IS 42Q, PS/MS183Q, IS 8Q, IS 72Q, IS 111, and IS 204. Special thanks to our collaborating arts education partners, teaching artists, local volunteers, teachers and chaperones, DJ Trase, and producer extraordinaire Randy Mason.