Under the Theme: Roots, Rhythm & Harmony Celebratng Guyana’s Diamond Jubilee
What We Do
The annual Guyana Folk Festival Season is a vibrant platform to showcase, celebrate, and preserve Guyanese cultural heritage. Hosted by the Guyana Cultural Association, our signature events and the ongoing programs at the Guyana Arts & Cultural Center promote the rich traditions of Guyanese music, dance, storytelling, and community life. We are dedicated to honoring and sharing Caribbean culture in New York City and beyond.
The Guyana Cultural Association of New York (GCA) is dedicated to documenting, celebrating, and preserving Guyana’s rich cultural heritage. Our mission is to showcase the diverse roots of Guyanese culture, making it accessible through various channels to inspire and connect Guyanese communities at home and abroad. Throughout the year, the GCA organizes a variety of cultural events and programs, including the our Recognition: Awards and Prizes, Summer Heritage Workshops, Family Fun Day and Kwe Kwe Nite– all designed to engage and enrich the Guyanese diaspora. To learn more about our work, check out our quarterly newsletter (Sign Up) and stay connected with the vibrant pulse of Guyanese culture.
Events & Activities
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.
2026 Folk Fest Season Announcements6
Under the Theme: Roots, Rhythm & Harmony Celebratng Guyana’s Diamond Jubilee
GCA's Folk Festival 2026 Season is here!
Thank you to our friends, family and supporters that came out to GCA’s Folk Festival 2026 Launch & Mashramani Brunch
2026 Event Calendar
Independence Concert
May 24, 2026
Caribbean Heritage Summer Workshop Series (SWS)
July 6, 2026
Theater in The Park
July 1, 2026
Symposium & Literary Hang , Festival of Films, Performing
Arts Festival
Sunday August 30, 2026
Recognitions: Awards & Prizes Gala
Sept 2, 2026
Kwe Kwe Nite
Sept 4, 2026
Folk Festival Family Fun Day
Sept 6, 2026
The Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc, is proud to announce its 2025 Guyana Folk Festival Awards, Chin prizes for Heritage Journalism and Derry Etkins memorial prizes for Music Education and Composition winners.
These winners are the outcome of a process that starts with nominations from the public. These nominations are then evaluated by panels of distinguished judges. All nominations are evaluated against seven criteria: Originality, Scope, Impact /Influence, Integration, Pioneering spirit, Challenges and Achievements. We wish to thank those members of the public who submitted nominations. We also present the winners of the special categories for the Claire Ann Goring M.S. Youth Awards and GCA Cultural Enabler-Business Partner award.
GCA looks forward to welcoming you at our Silver Jubilee Anniversary fund-raising Awards Gala, to be held @ 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at Russo’s on the Bay 162-05 Cross Bay Blvd Queens NY. The 24th annual Recognitions Ceremony is one the signature events of the annual Guyana Folk Festival season—now in its 25th year, under the theme Guyana’s Cultural Vibes, Vivid and Alive @ 25!
Our 2025 GCA awardees and prize winners’ contributions reflect our cultural heritage and demonstrate significant achievements in accomplishing the objectives of our mission!
Support our Mission
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”.
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.
Congratulations to the 2025 winners!
2026 Recognitions: Awards And Prizes coming soon!
Nomination are currently closed
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
ENTRIES CLOSED
Please read the selection criteria details for more information. Selections will only be made from nominations received on time, complete with photographs.
Event Calendar
2-4pm Corn – an African Fruit Revered Throughout Human History with The Food Griot (delicious tasting too!)
GCA PUBLISHES
Online Magazine
