From October through December 2023, this new, site-specific installation by artist and activist Avram Finkelstein formed a conceptual ‘sky’ of memory and witnessing above the New York City AIDS Memorial, incorporating the words of poet Irena Klepfisz.

Each year, on December 1, the world gathers to remember those lost to and impacted by HIV/AIDS and champion the ongoing fight against the epidemic. To commemorate World AIDS Day 2023, the New York City AIDS Memorial hosted its annual, free, and public observance featuring a day of programming in collaboration with organizations dedicated to bringing communities together in the fight to end AIDS.

On November 19, we held a screening of Nostalgia, a new collaboration between filmmaker Jim Hubbard (United in Anger: A History of ACT UP) and composers Chris Cochrane and Kevin Bud Jones. Hubbard has been commissioned by the New York City AIDS Memorial to create a new experimental film about death and memory.

On October 21, we welcomed members of the Recollectors, a digital community and storytelling forum created and dedicated to remembering parents lost to AIDS and supporting the children they left behind, for a live storytelling program organized by artist Caroline Falby in partnership with the Generations Project. Eight storytellers from the Recollectors joined us on-site at the New York City AIDS Memorial.

On October 14, we celebrated our new, site-specific installation - Dedications - by Avram Finkelstein at an special event that featured a reading by poet Irena Klepfisz of her poem Bashert.

A new, site-specific version of City Park (1973), a controversial early work by maverick American composer, cellist, producer, and singer Arthur Russell (1951–1992), was presented at the New York City AIDS Memorial, directed by Nick Hallett, and featuring David Van Tieghem, Peter Zummo, Nat Baldwin, Lea Bertucci, Shawn O’Sullivan, and Alex Waterman.

“Revival: Survivors’ Stories” highlights the experiences of long-term HIV survivors, as well as friends and loved ones of those we have lost. This installation is intended to activate the Memorial, honoring our history and spreading a message of resilience, community, and hope.

This experiment in joining text and sound, a passage through memory, and a fitting coda to our season brings together influential poet Pamela Sneed with the remarkable musicians Natalie Greffel and Mazz Swift. Sneed’s practice poignantly emerges from her service as an activist and caregiver during the height of the AIDS epidemic.

Dance for a Memorial was our second annual silent disco which took place during NYC Pride Month on June 14 and featured a line-up of incredible DJs, including Oscar Nñ (Papi Juice), br0nz3_g0dd3ss, DJ Ches, and resident sound guru DJ Nikki Jax.

In celebration of NYC Pride Month, the New York City AIDS Memorial partnered with the creative team behind the new portrait book Legends of Drag to present a live, on-site, live revue at the Memorial featuring six, fabulous drag elders.

Cramer and Waters conceived a durational performance/installation in collaboration with members of their “queer-skinned kitchen band,” NYOBS. For several hours, the ensemble wove a tapestry of ribbons, sound, movement, music, and text throughout the Memorial site, evoking the tradition of 1960s-era Happenings.

Celebration of the opening of Jim Hodges: Craig’s closet with a public concert featuring Tender Ness and Jamie Reynolds.

Co-presented with Danspace Project, choreographers Ishmael Houston-Jones and Miguel Gutierrez in collaboration with musician Nick Hallett to adapted excerpts of the celebrated work of John Bernd.