In the bustling depths of the Jackson Heights subway station, a vibrant cultural center has emerged, transforming a mundane commute into a gateway to art and community.
The space is curated by Los Herederos, an organization dedicated to cultural and community initiatives. Mauricio Bayona, co-founder of Los Herederos, recalls the moment they found the perfect venue. “They just opened the door,” Bayona said, “and we said, ‘Here we go. This is the space that the community needs.’” His partner, Sturm, echoed this sentiment, describing the discovery as “bashert,” a Yiddish term meaning “meant to be.”
This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to utilize vacant retail spaces within the subway system. Out of 194 retail spaces, 53 are operational, 19 are under construction, and 64 are under negotiation. The MTA is actively seeking to fill the remaining 58 spaces through innovative collaborations, such as their partnerships with the Whitney Museum of American Art and ChaShaMa, an organization that transforms unused real estate into art venues.
The Jackson Heights space operates on a schedule, opening from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with additional hours on select weekends. The programming includes live broadcasts on LHRadio, featuring music and talk shows, as well as an art gallery inaugurated with “Queens as Cultural Crossroads,” a project celebrating the community’s diversity.
