2025-2026 DCLA Award Recognition
The Arts and Architecture Conservancy at Saint Peter’s serves as an essential cultural hub dedicated to classical, folk, and jazz music; theater; dance; visual art; and the preservation of historic architecture in Saint Peter's Church. Among our hundreds of performances and events, we are known for our commitment to jazz, including our Jazz on the Plaza series and Jazz Memorials celebrating late greats of our industry. During our 2025 and 2026 seasons, these programs are being supported in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) in partnership with the City Council. DCLA is the largest municipal funder of culture in the country and is committed to providing access to art and culture for all New Yorkers.
Saint Peter's Church is internationally known as the "Church of Jazz." With the arrival of Reverend John Garcia Gensel in 1965, a Jazz Vespers service for this community during Sunday afternoons was offered, allowing performers to rest after late night gigs. It transformed into a weekly celebration of this American music, frequented by Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, and Billy Strayhorn. This led to 601 Lexington Avenue becoming an artistic home for the jazz community, spilling beyond the religious affiliation of Saint Peter's Church. The Conservancy builds upon this legacy for the general public through free outdoor concerts and concert celebrations of late jazz greats. Our investments lean into the jazz community's identification of 601 Lexington Avenue as an artistic home while bringing world-class jazz performances to all for free regardless of religious affiliation.
Jazz on the Plaza’s 2025 season helped to usher in the 60th anniversary of Jazz programming featuring the seven-piece ensemble Catbus Collective, drummer Marcus Gilmore, and Arturo O'Farrill and The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra. Events are co-produced by the Conservancy; BXP; Grand Central Partnership; and Saint Peter's Church, with support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. These free concerts reached over 16,000 people in-person and through live broadcasts.
Throughout the year Jazz Memorials gather fellow performers, producers, industry members, and fans for free celebrations of jazz greats that have the feel of a lifetime achievement events. Memorials celebrate the full spectrum of contributors—musicians, composers, vocalists, producers, club and recording studio owners, and more. Colleagues and collaborators of the late artist mobilize to create a one-of-a-kind A-List concert. Produced in partnership with Saint Peter’s Church with additional resources from entities such as Blue Note Records, Jazz Foundation of America, family members and with support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
Each of these programs strive to provide a welcoming space or respite and renewal amid the concrete jungle of Midtown Manhattan, encouraging guests from all walks of life to find community and calm through culture.