As one of the first alternative spaces in New York City dedicated to presenting innovative, provocative work at the intersection of art and architecture, Storefront has accumulated an archive documenting its diverse and influential program of over 280 exhibitions and events dating from its founding in 1982. Featuring the work of more than 1,500 architects, artists and designers, this material includes a collection of original artwork, as well as over 115 cubic feet of proposals, correspondence, photographs, audio-visual media, and publications that together constitute a unique and underrepresented collection of narratives in contemporary cultural production and design.

 

The goal of Storefront’s archive is to significantly improve stewardship of and public access to Storefront’s collections. As a public design resource, the archive serves as a platform for research, ongoing programming, and collaborative partnerships with other resonant collections and organizations. The organization and digitization of Storefront’s archive has been made possible through the generous support of many funders; please see below for the full list.

 

Storefront’s archive consists of three collections. Read more about and access the digital archive (primarily Collection 1) through the links below.

• COLLECTION 1: Program Files (1982-2010) 

Physical description: 75 cubic feet (139 binders + 54 boxes + 2 oversize boxes)

 

This collection consists of records documenting all aspects of the programming process, from conception to execution and reception, including administrative files, artist profiles and research, ephemera, financial documents, promotional and press materials, correspondence, photographic elements, project proposals, audiovisual material, data storage, and video components.

 

The collection is arranged into eight series:

 

Series I: Exhibitions

The exhibitions series documents all aspects of researching, curating, and installing Storefront’s 173 exhibitions between 1982 and 2010. Folders are organized chronologically by exhibition. Exhibition documentation includes research, correspondence, press releases, project/curatorial statements, financial documents, artist information, photographic images, plans, posters and in-house publications.

 

——Access digital records for exhibitions here.

——Access the finding aid here.

 

 

Series II: Events

The events series documents performances, lectures, publication launches, symposia, and other public events organized by Storefront at its gallery space and at various other venues and locations from 1983-2008. The majority of this material focuses on three events: ECO-TEC, an international ecology and sustainability forum that convened seven times between 1993 and 1999; Poldergeist, a 1997 conference on Dutch architecture and urbanism; and the 1997 Kwangju Biennale, which Kyong Park helped to curate. This series also includes documentation of over two dozen additional events, nearly all of which remains unpublished.

 

——Access digital records for events here.

——Access the finding aid here.

 

Series III: Publications

The publications series contains pamphlets and books that Storefront produced for its exhibitions and events from 1983-2011. Documentation includes correspondence, notes, essays, drafts, and research and production files. The core of this series focuses on three serial publications produced by Storefront from the late 1980s through the 1990s: Front (1987-90), Report (1990-92), and Storefront Books (1994-99).

 

——Access digital records for publications here.

——Access the finding aid here.

 

Series IV: Media 

The media series contains audiovisual and data storage components of the collection, and some submissions. Formats include VHS, Betacam, CD, DVD, MiniDV, and floppy disc. The series is organized by exhibition and event dates, or by artist name.

 

——Access digital records for media here.

——Access the finding aid here.

 

Series V: Press

The press series includes press clippings and magazine articles covering Storefront’s programming, activities, organizational profiles, and director interviews.

 

——Access the finding aid here.

 

Series VI: Newsletters

The newsletter series contains large-format newsprint newsletters designed and produced by Storefront’s staff for nearly every exhibition since 1982. In 2009, all existing newsletters were digitized for Storefront Newsprints: 1982-2009, a large-format book produced by the organization’s staff.

 

——Access digital records for newsletters here.

——Access the finding aid here.

 

Series VII: Submissions and Proposals

The submissions and proposals series collects unsolicited exhibition and event proposals from artists, architects, and curators. This material includes CVs, portfolios, work samples, photographs, slides, and media files. It has been arranged alphabetically by author.

 

——Access the finding aid here.

 

Series VIII: Additional Material (currently unavailable)

 

 

 

 

• COLLECTION 2: Institutional Records (1982-2009)

Physical description: 9.75 cubic feet (9 boxes + 1 oversize folder)

 

This collection documents the operational activities of the organization, primarily in its first two decades, It includes correspondence, notes, articles, newspaper clippings, research materials, grant applications, financial documents, and administrative records. It also includes independent works by Storefront’s co-founder, Kyong Park, which document Park’s parallel professional endeavors while directing Storefront. The material is arranged into four series: Kyong Park’s Papers, Administrative Files, Development Files, and Annual Benefit.

 

See the finding aid for the collection here. The collection is arranged into four series:

 

Series I: Kyong Park’s Papers

The series consists of the independent work of Kyong Park, Storefront’s co-founder, from 1979-1999. Documentation includes correspondence, project files, research clippings, writings, photos, sketch books, and portfolios.

 

Series II: Administrative Files

This series contains administrative material such as general correspondence, organizational profiles, photos, gallery and façade maintenance records, general operation files, and files from Storefront’s co-director Shirin Neshat (1987-1997) and subsequent director, Sarah Herda (1998-2006).

 

Series III: Development Files

This series contains fiscal records in the form of correspondence, financial statements, budgets, grant applications, proposal materials, and associated research.

 

Series IV: Annual Benefit (currently unavailable)

This series contains records from Storefront’s annual fundraising benefits between 1992 and 2004. More recent benefit records will be accessioned into this series at a later date.

 

 

 

• COLLECTION 3: Original Artwork (1982-2006)

Physical description: ~30 cubic ft. (10 35” x 44” lateral file drawers, 6 tubes, 5 oversize boxes)

 

This collection contains artworks produced in-house and by program participants for exhibitions and events, including oversize drawings, prints, posters, flyers, ephemera, three-dimensional objects, and exhibition display copies.

 

See the finding aid for the collection here. The collection is arranged into three series:

 

Series I: Exhibitions

This series contains original artwork produced by artists, architects, and designers for exhibitions. This material, which includes drawings, sketches, posters, postcards, and 3D objects, has been arranged chronologically by exhibition.

 

Series II: Annual Benefits

This series contains works of art donated by artists, architects, and designers to Storefront’s annual benefit auction.

 

Seres III: Newsletter Films

This series contains large-format, line-negative film sheets used for printing Storefront’s newsletters, which often feature poster-sized graphic elements including reproduced photographs and artwork.

 

 

MORE INFORMATION

 

About the Finding Aids and Processing Information

Storefront’s archival collections were processed by Chialin Chou, Archive Curator, 2014-2019, with the assistance of Anthony Graham, Ryan J. Simons, Arielle Davidoff, Evan Shirley, Stella Blue Porzungolo, Iara Pimenta, Parker Limon, Yujia Bian, and Farnoosh Farmer.

 

Using the Collection

Storefront’s archival collections (excluding the material noted otherwise) are available for use by qualified readers by appointment at Storefront’s archive office, located in Brooklyn, New York. For further information or to make an appointment, please email archive@storefrontnews.org.

 

When making an appointment, please let us know specifically which material you wish to access. When arriving for your appointment, please provide a government issued ID and be prepared to sign a terms and use agreement. Storefront requests that researchers complete an archive access survey, which allows staff to review and improve archive policies.

 

Patrons may bring pencils (no pens) and notepaper. Researchers may also bring a laptop and a digital or film camera, but use of flash and tripods are not permitted. Wifi is available in the reading area.

 

Rights & Permissions

Storefront provides access to the materials in its archive solely for noncommercial, educational, and research purposes. The unauthorized use of archive material is strictly prohibited. In addition to permission from Storefront, permission of the copyright owner (if not Storefront) and/or any holder of other rights (such as publicity and/or privacy rights) may also be required for reproduction, publication, distribution, and other uses. Responsibility for making an independent legal assessment of any item and securing any necessary permissions rests with the person(s) desiring to publish the item. Storefront makes no warranties as to the accuracy of the materials or their fitness for a particular purpose.

 

All inquiries regarding the use of material, both for noncommercial educational and research purposes and for commercial publications, should be submitted to Storefront for review.

 

For institutional lending requests, please submit a formal request to archive@storefrontnews.org.

 

 

SUPPORT

The digitization of Storefront’s archive has been made possible by a major grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). The archive has also received generous support from the Documentary Heritage Program of the New York State Archives, a program of the State Education Department; the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH); the Council on Library & Information Resources (CLIR); and Mr. Robert M. Rubin. 

 

Storefront also thanks its digitization partners for their work and assistance, including: Internet Archive, Google Arts and Culture, Small Data Industries, and George Blood, LP. A special thanks as well to Janet Parks, Former Curator of Avery Drawings and Archives; Shelley Hayreh, Archivist, Avery Drawings and Archives; and Chris Dierks.