Janaya Williams

Artist Rob Swainston knows what it's like to face eviction.

Artist Rob Swainston knows what it's like to face eviction. For almost 13 years, he has been living illegally in a loft apartment on the 10^th floor of an old pasta factory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Even though about 200 people live in the towering waterfront building at 475 Kent Avenue, the owner does not have a certificate of occupancy and the residents have commercial leases.

The World Cup isn't just thrilling for soccer fans.  It's also good news for business.  Beer, flat-screen TVs and amped-up sound systems are flying off the shelves of local stores and bars.

Working artists in New York are twice as likely to be living without adequate health insurance as those who make their living by other means.

Working artists in New York are twice as likely to be living without adequate health insurance as those who make their living by other means.  And after health care funding was slashed by $775 million dollars in the most recent state budget, it may be more urgent than ever for people who make a living through creative means to make their health care dollars stretch.

New York, NY —

Working artists in New York are twice as likely to be living without adequate health insurance as those who make their living by other means. And after health care funding was slashed by $775 million dollars in the most recent state budget, it may be ...

Bahamian filmmaker Kareem Mortimer is the first to admit that he is taking a big risk with his debut feature film, Children of God. The  story of two young men falling in love puts the spotlight on homophobia in Caribbean society.

New York, NY —

Low-budget New York City filmmakers are worried about a new $300 film permit charge. The filmmakers say the one-time charge is a drop in the bucket for productions with multimillion dollar budgets, but a student film's total budget may not exceed $300.

"Ninety percent of our ...

Art world provocateurs Provac Eva and Franco Mattes exhibit chips, bits, and other little pieces of art masterpieces stolen from museums at Postmasters Gallery.

Tonight in Manhattan,  the best and worst book trailers produced in the last year will be honored at the first annual Moby Awards.

New York, NY —

In a modified cargo box in Times Square, a production is going on -- with enough room for one performer and a single audience member. WNYC’s Janaya Williams took in a show at the intimate performance space.

In Madison Square Park, four large screen monitors ring the tables where Shake Shack customers stop to eat their burgers and fries. And they appear to be watching you.

Harlem music legends are honored on 125th with commemorative plaques. Janaya Williams reports.

New York, NY —

After the discovery of a failed car bomb in Times Square last Saturday, NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly says he'd like to see even more cameras in Times Square and throughout Midtown. In Madison Square Park, a film project called "Surveillance" is calling attention to the ...

A public hearing on a new Parks Department proposal limiting the number of art vendors in public parks brought out advocates on both sides of the issue.

New York, NY —

Students and parents rallied alongside staff on Thursday at the Harlem School of the Arts, calling for a solution to keep the school open.

They also bashed the board of directors for keeping them in the dark about the severe financial straits facing the prominent school. ...

New York, NY —

Artists are mobilizing against a new Parks Department rule that limits the number of vendors who can sell art and printed matter in four Manhattan parks. Under the proposed rules, artists would compete on a first come, first served basis for designated spots in Union ...

WNYC's Janaya Williams shines her highly arbitrary spotlight on some of the city's happenings. From the Civil Rights Movement, to new leadership at the Cooper-Hewitt, to getting ready for Passover.

New York, NY —

The 10th National Black Writers Conference kicked off today at Medgar Evars College in Brooklyn. The four days of events examine issues and trends in literature produced by black writers in the U.S. and abroad. Emerging authors are joined by some of the field's brightest ...

Suzan-Lori Parks' new play tells the story of a step-mother trying to repair her family at odds. Read more.