Begin Again
Donate to Socrates
Begin Again
Socrates was founded on defiance and possibility. A former landfill and illegal dump site was reclaimed—reborn as a platform for art, public life, and collective experimentation. From the beginning, we have been more than an arts organization. We are:
- A public park and environmental steward
- A home for artist-led experimentation
- A gathering place for creative risk, joyful belonging, and civic imagination
Now, as we approach our 40th anniversary in 2026, we stand at another inflection point. Fiscal pressures, structural challenges, and a shifting cultural landscape demand reinvention. This moment matters. Because Socrates is not alone.
We choose to begin again. And to do this, we are drawing on our greatest strengths:
- Our commitment to artists
- Our investment in community
- Our belief in the transformative power of place
Transformation takes time. Just as clearing the land took years, reshaping our future responsibly requires resources, patience, and collective support.
A three-year investment in what’s possible
We are working toward a three-year runway of experimentation, supported by every member of our community — individuals, institutions, and partners alike.
Please join us in this evolution and DONATE TODAY!—your support will strengthen our foundation while empowering a more sustainable and daring future. Any amount makes a difference.
Your gift, in any amount, supports:
- Artist-led creation and production onsite
- Environmental stewardship and free public access
- Year-round programs and community partnerships
- A cultural space where people can build, question, and belong
Why Socrates Matters
Socrates remains the only organization in New York City that:
- Collaborates with artists onsite to create and present public art, while also
- Managing a public park,
- Serving as a year-round cultural and environmental anchor for its community.
We take all three responsibilities seriously—and see them as opportunities to lead by example, to model what is possible, and to keep public space truly public.
This work cannot be taken for granted
In a moment when so much is being lost, we choose to rebuild, reimagine, and begin again. With collective action and shared purpose, Socrates can continue to be a place where art, public life, and community thrive.
Please support this work by making a contribution today.
Together, we can begin again.
Learn how our Socrates Fellowship is evolving as we celebrate its 30th anniversary and look ahead to the Park’s 40th anniversary in 2026.