2023 marks the 10th Anniversary of the STooPS Bed-Stuy Annual Art Crawl. Each summer, STooPS collaborates with organizations and businesses throughout the community to present local artists working across genres who perform and exhibit on stoops and sidewalks throughout the neighborhood. Bringing together a network of partners such as block associations, community gardens, and the community board, STooPS facilitates community engagement and resource sharing to support both local artists and businesses. 

Over the past  3–5 years, gentrification has caused drastic changes in demographics and economics that have evolved the fabric of Bed-Stuy, which historically has a unique identity and strong sense of community. STooPS Founder Kendra J. Ross moved to Bed-Stuy at the height of the nationwide conversations concerning gentrification. She was immediately concerned about how she could get to know her new neighborhood and make a positive impact. Ross wanted to create a way to connect more established entities like homeowners and business owners to other newer residents and artists like herself. So she decided to use what she knew best- art- and place that on stoops, traditional spaces of gathering in BedStuy accessible to everyone. And STooPS was born. STooPS is a tangible way to unite artists, new residents, businesses, homeowners and community organizations. STooPS aims to build on the unmistakable BedStuy identity through performances and exhibitions by local artists that engage residents in meaningful interactions in unconventional venues. It creates space for embracing change and adhering to precaution while still maintaining the energy and traditions of BedStuy.

This year, the Bed-Stuy Annual Art Crawl will take place on July 29th from 12pm - 7 pm. Bed-Stuy-based artists/groups will collaborate with space owners to share their work on stoops, sidewalks, storefronts, and/or in community gardens. Inspired by Intelligent Mischief signs posted throughout BedStuy, this year we are commissioning artists to create new works based on the question “What if BedStuy was a Black Utopia?” Reflecting on the history and stories of black homeowners, movements, and institutions in the neighborhood, STooPS is asking artists to create their Afro-futuristic vision of BedStuy in collaboration with a community member, organization or partner. This project gives local artists a platform to showcase their art in their own community while establishing and strengthening the relationships between local artists, neighbors and business owners. It also gives the BedStuy community opportunities to experience high quality art from award winning artists for free in their own community. 

STooPS is an opportunity for members of the neighborhood to discover and share resources that exist within Bed-Stuy. This awareness allows people to build partnerships and support each other, strengthening the entire community.