About
The Queens Culture & Arts Network (QCAN) is dedicated to enhancing the cultural landscape of Queens by curating accessible, distinctive, and relevant artistic experiences for diverse communities. Our network fosters creativity, inclusivity, and collaboration, serving as a platform for artists and art enthusiasts to connect and thrive.
QCAN is a full-service arts organization that designs artistic programs catering to the unique needs and characteristics of each community it serves. The organization provides a wide range of programs and services for individuals of all ages, aimed at educating, uplifting, and celebrating the borough's rich diversity and multi-ethnic heritage.
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Through QCAN, individuals discover and engage with the arts in their local neighborhoods. As the only arts organization within Queens that facilitates such accessibility, QCAN emphasizes the importance of community engagement in the arts. Your community, your arts.
QCAN provides a variety of programs and services, including performances, concerts, workshops, pop-up exhibitions, neighborhood beautification projects, and free mentorship support for high school students interested in pursuing careers in the performing and visual arts. It also supports professional artists seeking to advance their careers. Additionally, QCAN can be engaged in curating other artistic projects.
Meet The Team
Susan Agin
Executive Director, QCAN
Susan Agin is the Executive Director for the Queens Culture & Arts Network (QCAN). Susan is a successful performing arts professional with over 25 years of experience working in the non-profit sector in patron services, sales, development and fundraising, professional arts programming, management and education, focusing on the cultural needs of a diverse community. Susan is recognized for her creation of distinctive programming and successful execution of over 500 events, effectively representing Queens' diverse populations.
Honors and Awards: New York City Council Proclamation for outstanding contributions in the community, City Council Citation for exemplary service to the community, Citation of Honor from the Queensborough President for outstanding work, Certificate of Achievement by the New York State Senate, New York State Citation for exemplary service on behalf of the community, Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, Schneps Communications’ Top Woman in Business Award, TSI Community Service Award for years of service to the Queens Community, Timesledger Queens Impact Award, Queens Tribune: Power Women of Queens, NYC Council Lifetime Achievement Award, Queens Public Television Power Women of Queens Recognition Award. Associations: Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Actor’s Equity Association, Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs.
Costa Constantinides
Chief Executive Officer, VBGCQ
Before joining VBGCQ, Costa Constantinides represented the New York City Council’s 22nd District, which includes his native Astoria, as well as Rikers Island, parts of Jackson Heights, Woodside, and East Elmhurst. The son of a Greek-Cypriot immigrant and an education activist, Costa grew up immersed in the diverse fabric of Astoria. Costa attended P.S. 84 and P.S. 122 in Astoria before graduating from William Cullen Bryant High School. He attended Queens College where he now teaches as an adjunct lecturer in both the Political Science and Urban Studies departments. In 2010, Costa received his Juris Doctor from Benjamin Cardozo School of Law and was admitted to the bar in 2014. Some highlights from Costa’s time serving in City Council include:
• Lead the effort to pass the Climate Mobilization Act, the largest carbon emissions reduction act ever mandated by any city in the world. • Supported initiatives that prioritize STEM including allocating capital dollars to put a hydroponic science lab in every school in District 22 • Secured $30 million to reimagine Astoria Park • Partnered with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development to create 500 new units of senior affordable housing.
Andy Rodriguez
Executive Director, VBGCQ
Andy brings over twenty years of experience in Youth Services and the non-profit sector. His experience includes advocacy for displaced families, designing and implementing dynamic youth programs, as well as program management and administration. Andy understands and appreciates the transformative power that youth programs can play in the lives of the young people and families in the neighborhoods they serve. He has lived in Astoria for over 15 years and is excited to be a part of an organization that serves the community.
Board of Managers
Keith David
Film, Stage & Television Actor
Keith David is a classically trained actor, winning 3 Emmys as well as being nominated for a Tony award. He starred in the recently concluded TV series "Greenleaf" for Oprah Winfrey's OWN network. On the big screen, Keith co-starred with Chadwick Boseman in "21 Bridges". Prior credits include "Night School" with Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish and "Tales from the Hood 2". Additional titles include the Academy award-winning films "Crash" and "Platoon." He is widely recognized for appearing in the highly-acclaimed films Disney's "The Princess and the Frog", "Requiem for a Dream", "Men at Work", "They Live", "There's Something About Mary", and "The Thing." On Broadway, Keith starred in August Wilson's "Seven Guitars" and "Jelly's Last Jam" for which he garnered a Tony Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical. Keith's work as a voice actor has made him a household name. His work in narration has earned him three Emmys for Ken Burns' "Jackie Robinson", "The War", and "Unforgivable Blackness - The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson". Born and raised in New York, Keith became interested in the arts at a very young age. After appearing in his school's production of "The Wizard of Oz", he knew this was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He enrolled in New York's High School of the Performing Arts and continued his studies at The Juilliard School.
Jay Michaels
Producer, Promotional Executive
Jay Michaels is a 30-year veteran of Broadway/Off-Broadway, film/TV as a producer and promotional executive. Credits include special events assistant for the Daily News and Joyce Theater’s American Theater series (Drama Desk Award-winner); national tour manager for Cats, Edwin Drood, and Les Miserables; a TV-Media buying associate; senior marketing executive for international events; speechwriter for the Weissler, Nederlander, and Shubert organizations, James Earl Jones, Jon Stewart, Vera Wang, Mayors Lindsay and Dinkins; and Hillary Clinton to name a few. Michaels managed promotional events for Broadway’s Guys & Dolls (1992), Damn Yankees (1994), Vagina Monologues (2005), Beginnings (2018) as well as Audra McDonald at Broadway’s Town Hall (2019). Michaels is a multi-award recipient and honorary board member of Pace University and directing fellow with the Pearl Theater. His PR firm, Jay Michaels Global Communications, represents a vast array of independent international talent and their projects. Michaels is a professor of communications at Larry L. Luing School of Business at Berkeley and the Keller Business School at DeVry.
Mark Kohn
Finance Executive & Partner
Mark has been in the financial arena for more than 35 years, specifically in the insurance premium finance industry. In 2003 he started and was managing partner of AICC, a Long Island based premium finance company. In 2023 he merged and partnered with a national lending institution where he continues to manage and grow his portfolio. Coupled with his financial background, Mark is no newcomer to the performing arts. Mark's technical abilities in lighting and sound along with producing have over the years brought him to many Long Island and regional venues. Some past favorite productions include Godspell, A Chorus Line, Grease, City of Angels, Brigadoon, Crazy for You, Guys and Dolls and Leader of the Pack.
Although dedicated to theatre, he has worked with concert touring artists Judy Collins, Crystal Gayle, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Michael Feinstein, Pat Benatar, Peter Paul and Mary, Roberta Flack, Spyro Gyra, Mel Torme, and Natalie Cole. Mark has served on the Board of Directors of The Theatre Association of New York State The Long Island Arts Council, The Glen Cove Endowment for Music and Arts Education, and The Gray Wig at Hofstra University where he served for fourteen years as Vice President and produced dozens of Broadway style productions. Currently he serves on the Board of Directors and Treasurer of FAMEGC, Inc. and the President of his Homeowners Association overseeing an annual budget of 3.5 million dollars.