Save the Date
Baxter St on the Rock

Our fourth annual benefête, Baxter St on the Rock, will be held on June 18, 2021, at The Rockaway Hotel in Queens, NY. Baxter St on the Rock is expected to be one of 2021’s first in-person events on the New York non-profit circuit and is sure to be a memorable kickoff to New York City’s cultural resurgence. 

Artists, musicians, philanthropists, and cultural luminaries will come together—at a safe physical distance—to honor Samira Nasr, Editor-in-Chief of Harper’s Bazaar; Tariq “Black Thought” Trotter, co-founder of the Roots’s Two One Five film, television production company; and emerging photographer Elliott Jerome Brown Jr. The evening will feature performances from artist Derrick Adams and Roots trumpeter Dave Guy, Baxter St artist Ivan Forde, and the Menahan Street Band featuring KIRBY and surprise musical guests and a DJ set by Questlove, all viewable from private balconies and expansive outdoor terraces. 

Baxter St’s fourth annual “benefête” celebrates the community, diversity, and creativity of the 137-year-old organization, known for its critical support of emerging lens-based artists. Proceeds from the event will help Baxter St and its dynamic cultural community come back stronger than ever and directly enable its Workspace Residency Program, cutting-edge exhibitions, and groundbreaking Conversation Series. 

“For over a century, Baxter St has uplifted and celebrated diverse artists and photographers,” said Michi Jigarjian, President of Baxter St. “Baxter St on the Rock promises to be a fabulous party celebrating our work and our artists, as well as the resiliency and strength of the New York City cultural community. We are thrilled to host this event safely in the Rockaways, a vibrant and inspiring neighborhood that represents the best of the city we all love.”

Baxter St on the Rock’s exclusive venue partner is the recently opened Rockaway Hotel, a cultural hub in a neighborhood that embodies New York City’s eclecticism and resilience. With the entire hotel devoted to the benefête, including over 16,000 square feet of outdoor entertainment space, patrons will have plenty of room to participate in festivities safely in self-designated “party pods.” 

Pods and individuals will have the opportunity to book one- or two-night stays and experience hotel-wide artistic activations that celebrate Baxter St’s rich history as a leading incubator of photography and visual culture. 

“Inspired by artists’ abilities to help us see the world in new ways, Baxter St is actively reimagining what support looks like,” said Director Jil Weinstock. “Our collective need for art has only increased over the last year, and championing artists is more urgent than ever. As we return to our dearly missed tradition of celebration, we look toward a strong and adaptive future of culture in our city and beyond.”

To purchase party pods, tickets, or for more information about the event, please contact Austin Fremont at baxterst@fremontblueevents.com. 

Limited General Admission and Artist Tickets Available Here.