special events
Attire: Formal Floral Elegance
All proceeds from The Garden of Creativity directly fund Culture Lab LIC’s upcoming season of free public art exhibitions, community programming, and vital artist residency grants.
Help us cultivate the next season of local culture.
Join us as we toast to six years of breaking ground, and help us sow the seeds for an even brighter, more creative tomorrow!
Culture Lab LIC's
5th Annual Gala
The Garden of Creativity
An Evening For Growth
Wednesday, September 16, 7 -10pm
Culture Lab LIC invites you to our 2026 Gala, The Garden of Creativity: An Evening For Growth.
This year, our space will transform into a blossoming sanctuary that mirrors our own journey over the past six years. During this time, Culture Lab has evolved from a seedling of an idea into the vibrant, perennial space that local creatives have come to love. The Garden of Creativity celebrates that beautiful evolution by honoring the roots that got us here and cultivating our path forward.
Start your evening wandering through our transformed space as you find yourself amongst our exhibition Hidden Stories: The Secret Language of Still Life & Floriography. Indulge in drinks and locally sourced bites while you network and mingle with those keeping our garden GREEN!
As usual, the evening will present performances by our 2026 New Work’s Lab Residents and moments to honor those who have truly made a difference in arts, culture and NYC.
Pawp-Up in The Lot
"Pawp-Ups" are back at Culture Lab LIC!
Previously known as our "Pup-Ups", we are making sure to include our feline friends!
Join us 1-4pm on the first Sunday of every month from May-Oct as local rescues pawp-up with dogs and cats in need of fosters and forever homes!
Already have a furry bestie? Bring them along and meet other pet owners in the community, browse pet apparel, services, food & treats among local vendors! And since our gallery is dog friendly, you can browse the exhibits - make sure to stop at our front desk for complimentary treats!
Vendor slots are filling up but we're still looking for folks who think the animal community will benefit/appreciate your goods and services!
-Food & Treats
-Services (walker, daycare, groomers)
-Pet Apparel/Gear
-Pet portraits
We're especially grateful to @bondvet for their sponsorship this year, ensuring animals get adopted and local businesses thrive!
Upcoming Dates:
September 6
October 4
SUZIK (Queens)
Citizen Arts International
Saturday, September 12, 3 - 3:30pm
South Korean company Force defies gravity in this street circus performance and NYC premiere.
Suzik—the Korean word for verticality—is a Chinese pole performance that reimagines the vertical as a space of connection, trust, and collective movement. Three performers navigate the precarious heights of the pole, entering a world where balance depends on the presence, strength, and care of others.
Against the force of gravity, Suzik explores a different way of moving upward: not through individual ascent, but through shared momentum. The performers reach, support, and respond to one another, transforming moments of risk into acts of trust and possibility.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
Citizen Arts International transforms New York City's public spaces into vibrant stages for free international performance, participatory art, and cultural exchange. Bringing art into everyday life across the boroughs, the festival fosters civic engagement and strengthens social connection.
The Citizen Arts International Festival is produced in partnership with Citizen Arts and Education and the Ukrainian Museum, in affiliation with Social Practice CUNY, with special thanks to the PhD Theatre + Performance Program at the CUNY Graduate Center.
SpeakEasier Language Exchange
SpeakEasier was created in 2024 by Daniela Cantillo to celebrate and foster multilingualism in New York City. In early 2025, SpeakEasier partnered with Culture Lab LIC to bring to life the monthly SpeakEasier Language Exchange, where intermediate-to-advanced target speakers of Arabic, French, Farsi, and Spanish come together to practice their speaking skills through engaging conversation.
Follow SpeakEasier on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, and for language practice tips and insights right to your inbox, sign up for the newsletter here!
September 26, 2026
October 24, 2026
November 28, 2026
The Trinity Games
Saturday, October 17
Doors open at 9am
The Trinity Games is a partner hybrid fitness race open to the entire New York City community. Two person teams race through a series of functional fitness stations combined with running, splitting the work however they choose. The event is designed to be genuinely challenging for competitive athletes and completely achievable for people who have never raced before. Last year every single team that started crossed the finish line.
This year the event expands to 150 teams across three divisions: Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles, and Mixed Doubles, with age division prizes across all categories. Race day also includes live music, an athlete village, a vendor expo, food and drinks, and a post race party at Culture Lab LIC.
The Trinity Games gives back to the neighborhood it calls home. All proceeds from registrations go directly to Hunters Point Parks Conservancy and Culture Lab LIC. Last year the event raised $12,000 for both organizations. This year that number will be higher.
Hunters Point Parks Conservancy maintains and enhances the waterfront parks and green spaces of Long Island City, running over 200 free community programs annually at Gantry Plaza State Park and Hunter's Point South Park.
The Trinity NYC is a coach-led strength and fitness gym in Long Island City dedicated to meeting people where they are and moving them forward safely, confidently, and intentionally.
Registration is open now at https://events.elitefeats.com/26trinitygames
Tickets are $229 per team.
For media inquiries contact info@thetrinitynyc.com.
