artist & art worker
PROFESSIONAL
Department of Cultural Affairs, NYC — Grantmaking Operations Manager
October 2021-current
I assist in overseeing documentation for grant eligibility; generate workflow progress reports, maintain internal tracking documents and progress reports; monitor grant compliance; prepare grant panels; assist in the planning of seminars, training sessions, convenings, and other events developed by the agency; assist in the development of statistical and narrative reports.
Center for Book Arts (CBA), NYC — Programs Manager
Oct 2018 - Aug 2021
Supervise 3 part-time staff, 20+ instructors, and 20+ volunteers and interns. Implemented the project management system for all programs at CBA, improving workflow efficiency by 55%. Regularly work with notable artists, researchers, curators, and writers, managing strategic planning and creative collaborations for quarterly exhibitions, 2 year-long artist residency programs, 14+ publication projects, 18+ literary publications, 125+ classes, and 80+ events, lectures, and seminars annually. Successfully launched virtual programming and classes during COVID-19 pandemic, engaging artists and audiences world-wide.
Independent curator, educator, writer, & editor, NYC
2014 - PRESENT
Regularly organize and facilitate community workshops on fine art and creative writing. Copy Editor for Ugly Duckling Presse. Proofread 7+ publications for spelling/formatting errors and translation inconsistencies.
Co-organized public performances including Enduring Apocalypse (12 hour marathon of 50 performers) and A Poetry Reading in the Sky, The Sky as in Palestine.
GAMA Collective, NYC — Curator
2017 - 2020
(Gathering All Muslim Artists) Cultivated the creative mission and strategic planning of the organization by developing innovative programs and strategizing audience outreach through Instagram and Facebook, creating 3 weekly posts to showcase artist highlights. Curated 3 art exhibitions for greater visibility and increased opportunities for American Muslim artists. Spearheaded partnerships with 2 different publications offering to publish stories of American Muslim artists.
AANM, Dearborn, MI — Educator, Store Curator
2015 - 2017
(Arab American National Museum) Trained tour guide. Led forums, dialogues, workshops on Arab American art, culture, and poetics. Established relationships with over 100+ vendors and artisans to sell products, grossing $50,000 in museum store sales.
EDUCATION
New York University, NYC — M.A. in Arts Politics
Focused research on artistic and literary production, curatorial practice, and archiving methodologies.
Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI — B.S. in Apparel, Textiles & Merchandising; Minor in Fine Art
SKILLS
Proficient in arts administration, project management, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Suite, Google Workspace, curatorial affairs, community organizing, publication production, event planning (online and in-person events), writing and negotiating contracts, budgeting, social media strategizing, artistic collaborations.
Significant background in design, photography, fine arts, creative and academic writing.
ENGAGEMENTS
Grant recipient:
Queens Council on the Arts New Work Grant (2021)
DCLA / NYFA City Artist Corps (2021)
Brooklyn Arts Council:
Application Review Panelist for 2019, 2020, & 2021 grant cycles for literary programs.
Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum Advisor:
Contemporary Muslim Fashions Exhibition in 2019.
Panel organizer and moderator of upcoming discussion: Process & Collaboration: Designing Poetry Chapbooks with CUNY (City University of New York) (2021).
Organizer of Lecture Series at CBA:
Radical Legacies in Contemporary Creative Work (2021): Conversation series with artist activists, curated by Shani Joseph & Joseph Cuillier III of The Black School.
Between Heritage & Modernity (2020): Series on Arabic Typography, curated by Dr. Nadine Chahine.
Book Arts Toward Liberation (2020): Conversation series with Black book artists and cultural practitioners, curated by Heather Heart & Jina Valentine of Black Lunch Table.
Women in Publishing (2019); Series on history and practice of publishing, curated by Sarah Kirk Hanley.