about our festival
Our Story
In 1999, our story began at the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center featuring works of art dedicated to jazz. Starting off with only thirty visual artists the exhibition series continued in the legendary JVC Jazz Festival for eight long years as a special event under Visual Expressions On Jazz™. Today, and 20 plus years later (and 35 years of advocating for visual arts and jazz), with over 100 visual artists per exhibition and over 75 musicians in the Jazz By The Water™ series on Gov Island Arts and Jazzfest NYC™ is the premier festival dedicated to supporting the visual side of jazz highlighted by jazz music. Despite the effects of COVID-19 these past few years, we have continued our mission of supporting artists and musicians. It's exciting to reach this milestone! Thanks to everyone who supported us on this journey!
Support Our Festival
To receive a copy of our sponsorship package, please contact Gwen Black, Festival Creator, please email gwenblackarts@yahoo.com or contact 212-665-5313. Thank you!
thank you! Thank You!
Discover the Best in Arts and Entertainment at Arts and Jazzfest NYC™
Special Thanks to Yvonne Stafford, Founder and Board President of Sugar Hill Communications, Inc. for working with us as our Fiscal Conduit for over the past 10 years and to our long time mentor Cultural Icon Randy Weston RIP, to The On! Channel for their generous support for the virtual launch of our Jazz By The Water™ series in 2020 and thank you to CCCD (Centro Civico Cultural Dominicana), AHRC, LMCC, K&R Realty, UMEZ, NYPL, and Governor's Island for being a community partner over the years and to West Harlem Development Corp (WHDC) for their support in launching our Community Christmas Caroling Year End Holiday Celebration (Montefiore Square Park) in 2021 and to Harlem CDC for their support for our 2022 programming. We are looking forward to our 7th Annual Visual Arts and Jazz Day ™ on Sat. June 24th. Our next dates for Jazz By The Water™ summer concert series on Governor's Island will take place on Sat. July 15th, Sat. August 19th, and Sat. Sept. 9th 2023 for more great music and relaxation. And please check out our videos and pics on our Gallery and Videos & Past Events pages. Many blessings to everyone!
Gwen Black
Festival Founder
Remembering our Cultural Icon Randy Weston. Our mentor and festival supporter
celebrating jazz through visual arts, music, and education
