TOPAZ ARTS, Inc.
TOPAZ ARTS, Inc. is a nonprofit artist-run organization founded in 2000 by Todd B. Richmond (visual artist/composer) and Paz Tanjuaquio (choreographer/dancer) to support the creative process and foster new works in contemporary performance and visual arts. Celebrating 25 years, our programs seek to support the artistic process while engaging creative and cultural exchange with audiences. Being situated in the most diverse county in the nation – Queens – TOPAZ has been a vital presence, making an impact on the lives of artists and local community, supporting immigrant and BIPOC artists since our inception in 2000. Through artistic explorations, our vision is to bring works that reveal and inspire new ideas, making cultural connections within NYC.
TOPAZ ARTS is a creative development center, offering affordable space, visual arts exhibitions and residency opportunities, assisting professional artists in the development and presentation of their works. Located in Woodside, in NYC’s borough of Queens, the 2,500 sq. ft. facility includes a contemporary dance studio and a light-filled gallery space. Transforming a former warehouse, the space is artist-designed using sustainability concepts such as incorporating radiant heat for the dance floor, largely using reused & recycled materials, and maintains an organic roof garden. A pioneer in the Queens area, TOPAZ ARTS brings contemporary artists and new works to the community, encouraging dialogue among different disciplines & diverse cultures, stimulating new ideas and new ways of working.
