The Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning

The Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning has been enriching the lives of New Yorkers through artistic expression for the past 35 years.
The Center, also known as JCAL, is a non-profit organization and a multidisciplinary art institution that offers programs in visual arts, performing arts and education.
“Our mission here at Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning is to encourage arts and provide programming to New York City, specifically Queens, and to make art accessible to people of all ages,” said Keisa Hudson, JCAL’s Marketing Director.
JCAL’s education program offers artistic workshops ranging from $125 to $175 dollars. They last 11 weeks from March until the end of May. Workshops include a range of beginner, intermediate, and experienced dance classes, music classes such as guitar and singing, and drama classes. There are also ceramic, painting, clay and drawing workshops.
“You name it, we pretty much offer it,” said Hudson.
On February 9, JCAL is having a free open house where people can come in and take demo classes to see which ones they like. Pre-registration is from February 2 to February 9 while general registration goes from February 9 to March 15. If classes are not filled after March 15, JCAL determines those that can be drop-in workshops that people can sit in for free.
Through JCAL’s visual arts program, one can visit their in house, free admission gallery that recently hosted the “Jamaica Flux” art exhibition. Voted the “Best of Queens” in 2007 by About.com, the exhibit displayed art on Jamaica Avenue, both on the street and in places of business. The gallery hosted a “Jamaica Flux” companion exhibit that recently closed on January 12.
From February 1 through March 22, the featured exhibit is called “Women of Substance” which is artist Olu Oguibe’s paintings of remarkable women of the 20th century which include Aretha Franklin, Winnie Mandela and Billie Holiday.
For those who have a knack for performing arts, JCAL has many different options from concert series to events on National Dance Week. A Monday night play reading series began on January 28 and will run through May 19 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Due to some adult content in the material, it is suggested that those who attend be a teen or older.
JCAL is able to offer free programs and lower priced workshops due to grants, sponsors and the community.
JCAL is located on 161-04 Jamaica Ave. It is normally open from Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Once the workshops begin, the closing time will be later. If you are interested in JCAL, its community efforts or taking a workshop, call (718) 658-7400.