Celebrate Accomplishments, Advancements For LGBTQ+ With Alice Austen House At Annual Gala

The Alice Austen House is thrilled to celebrate our 2024 gala on National Coming Out Day!

Editor’s more: A little more info on the significance of this event from the page on AAH’s site: “On National Coming Out Day, join the Friends of Alice Austen House as we honor the transformative collaboration of a partner organization, and the extraordinary contributions of two photographers who embody the bold spirit of Alice Austen.”

I am excited to extend a special invitation to you and your friends to support and join us at the historic National Arts Club in Manhattan on October 11 at 6 PM.

This event honors our rich LGBTQ+ legacy, the accomplishments of our institution, and the remarkable photographers and supporters who make our vital work possible.

Alice Austen (1866-1952), a trailblazing lesbian photographer, left behind a substantial archive that continues to inspire our museum’s exhibitions and programs. Today, we honor Austen’s legacy by preserving and interpreting her work and home, providing a platform for contemporary artists, and offering classes to over 6,000 NYC schoolchildren. These initiatives celebrate our diverse communities and support marginalized and LGBTQ+ youth.

This event will pay tribute to two remarkable photographers who hold a special place in our hearts. Jean Weisinger has built a profound archive over several decades, capturing the powerful essence of the Black lesbian literary and activist movements. Her 2023 solo exhibition, Progress Towards Love and Freedom, was a landmark retrospective for both the artist and the museum. We will celebrate her lifetime achievements and her significant contributions to photography and LGBTQ+ history.

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Gerard Franciosa, a dear friend of the Alice Austen House, will be honored for his dynamic photographic practice, steadfast support of contemporary photographers, and exceptional work in printing the Austen archive.

Additionally, we will recognize the New York Restoration Project for their outstanding support of the museum’s outdoor Queer Ecologies Project. Thanks to NYRP’s dedication, this project was brought to life in 2023, establishing an ongoing partnership for horticultural care and education. We are grateful for NYRP’s transformative impact on public spaces and their enhancement of outdoor experiences for all New Yorkers.
Please join me and the AAH team for this special occasion to immerse yourself in a space rich with history and innovation, celebrate positive change, and support the ongoing work of the Alice Austen House.

Alice Austen House 2024 Gala
Celebrating National Coming Out Day

Friday, October 11 | 6–10pm

The National Arts Club
15 Gramercy Pk S
New York, NY 10003

Banner Image: Event graphic. Image Credit – AAH

Alice Austen House

The Alice Austen House is a national landmark located in Staten Island, and is operated by the Friends of Alice Austen House, and owned by the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. The museum is open to the public, where the photographs of Alice Austen are on display, and there are also group tours and special events. From their website: “The Alice Austen House fosters creative expression, explores personal identity, and educates and inspires the public through the interpretation of the photographs, life and historic home of pioneering American photographer, Alice Austen (1866-1952).”