CITIZEN ARTS INTERNATIONAL
a citywide festival of multidisciplinary performance in public spaces
WHO WE ARE
A project of the PhD Program in Theatre and Performance at the CUNY Graduate Center in partnership with Social Practice CUNY and Citizen Arts and Education, Citizen Arts International transforms NYC’s public spaces into vibrant stages for international performance, participatory art, and cultural exchange. All events are free and open to the public. Bringing art into everyday life, the festival fosters civic engagement, strengthens social connection, and celebrates the city's diversity.
A FESTIVAL FOR EVERYONE
By championing collective presence and shared civic space, Citizen Arts International expands access to cultural expression and participation, particularly for communities historically overlooked by traditional arts programmers. Through participatory works, large-scale outdoor performances, and visual installations, the festival activates the city's geographical, cultural, and political landscapes. It offers novel readings of public spaces, revealing how artistic presence can transform places and reshape communities.
GUIDED BY VISIONARY LEADERHIP
Produced by Elena Siyanko, Meg Araneo, and Natalie Rine, whose expertise spans global production, scholarly research, and artistic practice, Citizen Arts International positions performance as a civic act, ensuring that each project fosters dialogue, visibility, and meaningful engagement in shared space.
EMBEDDED IN SCHOLARSHIP + CIVIC PRACTICE
Thanks to our association with Social Practice CUNY and the PhD Theatre and Performance Program at the CUNY Graduate Center, Citizen Arts International benefits from a robust academic and civic framework dedicated to socially engaged art, interdisciplinary research, and cultural equity. The partnership strengthens the festival's ability to link artistic innovation with education, public discourse, and community impact.
PARTNERSHIP + COMMUNITY
Through collaborations with partners including CUNY Stages, NYC Parks, community organizations, and international funders, Citizen Arts International models sustainable strategies for affordability and access. By uniting urban spaces through joint presentations and coalition-building, the festival ensures students, families, and diverse publics can experience high-caliber, multidisciplinary art - strengthening New York City's cultural and civic fabric.
Traces at Bushwick Star (2025)
Poetic Consultations, South Street Seaport (2025)
Ancrage, Laguardia Community College Performing Arts Center (2025)
LEADERSHIP TEAML
Elena Siyanko (Co-Director)
A curator and cultural strategist who provides both creative and strategic leadership to advance multidisciplinary performance in public spaces. With a global sensibility shaped by presenting work from 15 countries, she co-founded the Down to Earth Festival, serving as its Artistic Director and Executive Producer. Previously, as Inaugural Artistic and Executive Director of PS21/Center for Contemporary Performance (2019-2024), she led the organization from inception to international prominence, presenting hundreds of artists from around the world in every conceivable genre. Before joining PS21, Siyanko served as Director of Advancement Initiatives at the Clark Museum and Research Center for Visual Culture (2013-2019). In 2026, she was named Executive Director of the Ukrainian Museum in New York City.
Meg Araneo (Co-Director)
A Brooklyn-based theatre maker, producer, and scholar whose work advances interdisciplinary performance at the intersection of arts, medicine, and embodied difference. She has collaborated with artists across disciplines, including jazz musician, poet, and visual artist Oliver Lake and composer Rob Reddy on the original multimedia project INTERRUPTION! Her recent play Salomania was presented at the Thomas Cole Historical Center in 2025 with support from the Catwalk Institute. Meg served as Senior Producer of the inaugural Down to Earth Festival, where she presented the first U.S. iteration of Théâtre de la Ville’s Poetic Consultations. She is on faculty in the NYU Tisch School of the Arts and the Columbia University’s School of the Arts. Meg is the Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Citizen Arts and Education
Natalie Rine (Co-Director)
A New Orleanian-New Yorker and cultural producer focused on transnational theatrical exchange and innovative production models. She is the founder of Broadway DNA, a theatrical agency connecting new work across borders through international producing, licensing, and touring. After managing Broadway business affairs in the U.S. and Asia, she served as Producer of the New York Times-acclaimed Down to Earth Festival and now as Development Director for PITCHBLACK Immersive Experiences (U.S./Argentina). An independent theatrologist and member of the International Association of Theatre Critics, Natalie’s writing on performance distribution, adaptation, and multi-author collaboration has been translated into French, Japanese, and Slovak, reflecting her commitment to advancing creative practices across borders.