On Thursday, we had the honor and pleasure to attend the announcement of the Kaufman Arts District. A whole slew of Western Queens cultural leaders and elected officials were there to usher in this amazing move to recognize and heighten appreciation and acknowledgement of the vibrant arts scene in Astoria, especially in this pocket of the neighborhood.

The Kaufman Arts District’s boundaries are 31st Street to the west, 34th Avenue to the north, Steinway Street to the east and 37th Avenue to the south. It was first publicized in a NY Times article last week.

Speakers at the event included City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, who has served as the City Council’s Chair of the Cultural Affairs since 2010 and has made arts and culture a priority in his career; Hal Rosenbluth, Astoria Kaufman Studios President; Carl Goodman, Executive Director of MOMI; U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney; NY State Senator Michael Gianaris; NY State Assemblymember ; and Barbara Pryor, President of the Board of Trustees of Queens Council on the Arts.