77. No Longer Empty
New York
Founded in the dark months following the 2008 financial bust, No Longer Empty brings temporary art exhibitions and programming to vacant storefronts. Seeking partnerships with landlords (who recognize that bringing traffic into their spaces might help them find tenants), No Longer Empty creates temporary cultural and educational hubs. Artists, community members, educators, curators, and academics all come together at No Longer Empty events. The diversity of participants drives the program’s vibrancy. Each exhibition draws curatorial inspiration from active site research and response. Executive director Naomi Hersson-Ringskog has a background in urban planning and real estate, and hopes to use nomadic occupation to foster longer-term change by highlighting the potential for businesses in an area and supporting community development. 
