What We Do
The annual folk festival seasons have provided the platforms to showcase, to celebrate, and to document our heritage. The Guyana Cultural Association through its signature events and the programs of the Guyana arts & cultural center, promote and propagate Guyana's cultural heritage.
The Guyana Cultural Association of New York’s mission is to document, showcase and celebrate the multiple roots of Guyana’s cultural heritage. Through its work, the association preserves Guyanese cultural heritage, and makes it available through various channels, to inspire future generations of Guyanese at home and abroad. The Guyana Cultural Association hosts various cultural programs & events throughout the year (the Folk Festival Season) geared towards the Guyanese population around the world. To get an idea of the work we do, take a glimpse at out quarterly newsletter.
Overview Of Our Programs
Summer Workshops
The Guyana Cultural Association hosts a Caribbean Heritage Summer Workshop Series for six weeks. These workshops provide students with a safe, fun and creative learning experience.
Symposium
GCA's annual Symposium provides a platform for open dialogue on various facets of Guyanese culture including history, arts, music, and heritage; presented in the format of a panel discussion.
GCA Awards & Prizes
GCA celebrates Guyanese cultural contributors at home and abroad through our awards and prizes. These include: The GCA Award, The Godfrey Chin Prizes the Derry Etkins Memorial Prizes
Family Fun Day
Our end of folk fest season event to engage the Guyanese community and promote cultural activities. It features a variety of activities suitable for all ages, aimed at bringing families and communities.
2025 Folk Fest Season
Guyana's Cultural Vibes, Vivid and Alive @25
Giving Tuesday 2025
Thank you to our incredible sponsors and friends for supporting the Guyana Cultural Association of NY Inc.(GCA) 2024 Guyana Folk Festival Signature Events.
2025 marks the 25th Anniversary of GCAs leadership in promoting, preserving and propagating Guyana’s rich cultural heritage and make it available through different channels to inspire future generations at home and abroad.
Please help us kick off GCAs 25 for 25 campaign.
A donation of just $25, $250, $2,500 or any other amount will help us achieve our capital campaign goal earmarked for the acquisition of a building in Brooklyn NY to house the “Claire Ann Goring- Guyana Arts and Cultural Center”.
2025 Calendar of Events
25th Anniversary Launch
Feb 23, 2025
Caribbean Heritage Summer Workshop Series (SWS)
July 7- August 15, 2025
Symposium & Literary Hang , Festival of Films, Performing
Arts Festival
Sunday August 24, 2025
Recognitions: Awards & Prizes Gala
Wednesday August 27, 2025
Kwe Kwe Nite
Friday August 29, 2025
Folk Festival Family Fun Day
Sunday August 31, 2025
GCA Publishes:
Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc., is happy to announce that a limited number of hard copies of “Biography of a Guyanese Creative ClaireAnn Goring, M.S.” are now available.
A Limited Number of Hard Copies Are Now Available …
Hard copies cost US$25 plus $5.00 shipping within the USA. International shipping is $14.25.
Proceeds of the sale of this Biography are air-marked for the “Claire Ann Goring Guyana Arts and Cultural Center” Capital Campaign.
To purchase a copy, please zelle GuyanaCulturalAssocNY@gmail.com. In the memo section, please state “Claire Goring Biography.”
If you prefer to pay by check, please state “Claire Goring’s Biography” in the memo section and mail to Secretariat,
Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc.,
884 E95th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11236.
2025 RECOGNITIONS: AWARDS AND PRIZES
2025 Nomination are Closed
Cultural Vibes: Vivid and Alive@25
It is your chance to join us in honoring the best among us as we celebrate our silver jubilee. Therefore, we request nominations that meet the selection criteria and exemplify outstanding achievement in the motherland and/or the diaspora.
Since 2002, the Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc., has recognized Guyanese creativity and achievement. The following awards and prizes are made annually:
GCA Awards
- Guyana Cultural Association Award
- Guyana Cultural Association Exemplary Award
- Guyana Cultural Association Lifetime Achievement Award
Special Awards: No nominations required:
- GCA Business Partner/Cultural Enabler Award
- Claire Ann Goring M.S. Youth Awards
The Godfrey Chin prize for Heritage Journalism
The Godfrey Chin prize for Heritage Journalism rewards writers whose published works promote understanding and appreciation of the diverse strands of Guyanese heritage and contribute to celebrating the commonalities that connect the people of Guyana.
Derry Etkins Memorial Prizes for excellence in musical Composition, Performance, and Preservation
The Derry Etkins Memorial Prizes give recognition for excellence in musical Composition, Performance, and Preservation as well as Service and Commitment to creative, impactful, and sustainable music education programs focused on community engagement, innovation and/or excellence in music
2025 ENTRIES CLOSED
Please read the selection criteria details for more information. Selections will only be made from nominations received on time, complete with photographs.
Past honorees are listed here: View List
Congratulations to the 2024 winners!
Event Calendar
2-4pm Corn – an African Fruit Revered Throughout Human History with The Food Griot (delicious tasting too!)
GCA PUBLISHES
“Putagee, Masquerade, and We,” printed copies are avaliable!
Online Magazine
