The genesis of this winning collaboration ironically reads like a movie script: artist settles into a former industrial space in Brooklyn to live and produce art. Mystery landlord purchases the building and begins renovating it for his own business. Other local artists begin to relocate their studios to other buildings. But this artist is determined to stay and eventually meets the new owner — after receiving an eviction notice. The artist’s perseverance pays off, their relationship takes off, and the landlord eventually offers another space, even customizing it for the artist. It’s a win-win: the artist produces really cool art, brings international artists to Greenpoint, and the landlord gets a front row seat to the booming arts culture in Brooklyn. 

The artist is Sol Kjøk, founder of NOoSPHERE Arts, Last Frontier NYC, and Mothership NYC. The landlord is Tony Argento, founder of Broadway Stages. In the nearly 20 years since the preceding story unfolded, the collaboration has evolved to allow Kjøk’s and other artists’ creativity to flourish. Kjøk is thrilled with the support Argento and Broadway Stages have provided. She says, “Tony was able to see what I really needed, and support my vision. And Broadway Stages continued that support today.”

And the collaboration has allowed Broadway Stages to expand the use of its facilities far beyond TV and film production to support the international and local art community, as well as environmentally sustainble green rooftops. 

Kjøk, a Norwegian-born visual artist, founded Mothership NYC in 2005 at Broadway Stages’ Green Street facility in Brooklyn. It is a trans-disciplinary live/work space and presentation arena for international artists, intended to bring art from elsewhere to NYC and to help with networking. With a regular residency program in place since 2016, Mothership NYC serves as the host of the annual Mothership NYC Residency Award.  Monthly performance Salons are held and are open and free to the public. 

Celebrating its ninth anniversary this month, Kjøk founded NOoSPHERE Arts in 2011 as an artist-run 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located at Broadway Stages’ 520 Kingsland Ave., Brooklyn, facility. The organization produces multidisciplinary public arts programming. Argento serves on the Board.  

Kjøk also serves as the primary arts producer and presenter of occasional indoor events at Last Frontier NYC, a presentation arena for international artists across all disciplines, also located at 520 Kingsland Ave. Broadway Stages has sponsored and Kjøk has led an Artist-in-Residence (A.I.R.) program here. There are also seasonal outdoor events held in collaboration with Kingsland Wildflowers at Broadway Stages (KWBS), a half-acre green roof planted with native grasses and wildflowers where NOoSPHERE Arts is a coalition partner and Kjøk serves as arts producer and presenter. 

Broadway Stages is proud of it’s collaboration with Kjøk and the passion with which she brings international and US based multi-cultural arts to our community.  The arts play a critical role and enrich our society, showcasing our rich heritage, expanding our understanding of different heritage, and bringing our residents together across boundaries through the enjoyment of a performance or exhibit.  Through the arts we are able to build stronger connections and communities. We encourage you to become involved in the arts and to enjoy the bounty that is in our own backyard.