This Sunday, the office of the Borough President Marty Markowitz will issue a proclamation officially declaring November 15th "Suzanne Fiol Day in Brooklyn, USA". Borough President officials will be on hand to present the proclamation following a memorial service in her honor. The announcement will take place just before a scheduled symbolic parade which will depart St. Ann’s church, continuing past ISSUE’s future home at 110 Livingston, ending at the (OA) Can Factory for a celebratory concert.

Suzanne Fiol Day commemorates Suzanne’s immense contributions to Brooklyn’s cultural landscape as Founder and Artistic Director of ISSUE Project Room, one of the nation’s preeminent venues for experimental culture.

“On behalf of all Brooklynites, I salute the memory of Suzanne Fiol, a most respected daughter of Brooklyn, who left us far too soon, and whose influence will be felt for decades to come,” says Borough President Marty Markowitz. “I commend her, for being at the forefront of artistic interpretation, undertaking and finding creative ways to provide the space and encouragement for performing artists to create innovative and challenging work. She was an extraordinary spirit who created a “Carnegie Hall” for the avant-garde right here in our great borough.”

“We are tremendously thankful for the Borough President’s continued support,” says Steve Wax, Chairman of the Board for ISSUE Project Room. “His spirited decision to create Suzanne Fiol Day, as well as supporting us with a large grant for the reconstruction of 110 Livingston Street acknowledges the formidable organization that Suzanne built, ensuring that ISSUE will continue for decades to come."

Currently located in the (OA) Can Factory, Suzanne nurtured ISSUE through many transitions over the past six years – from a tiny garage on the Lower East Side to two consecutive midsized venues in Brooklyn. In 2008, selected from hundreds of applications for a 20-year rent-free lease at 110 Livingston St. in downtown Brooklyn, Suzanne secured a new and permanent home for ISSUE that will triple its audience capacity, increase its visibility and most importantly, bring a wide spectrum of cultural happenings to local residents.

Since 2003, ISSUE Project Room has produced nearly 1000 performances, and now stages well over 200 events yearly. Suzanne brought groundbreaking musicians of all genres, filmmakers, authors, poets, dancers, visual – and even trapeze – artists together in one space, curating shows that were interdisciplinary, multifaceted, and always surprising.

Suzanne Fiol Memorial Details:
4 pm
Service at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church
157 Montague Street, Brooklyn NY

7 pm
"Suzanne Fiol Day" Proclamation with
Representatives from the Borough President’s Office

7:10 pm
Exit Procession and Parade Begins

8pm
Parade Concludes at The (OA) Can Factory
Memorial Concert at ISSUE Project Room
232 3rd Street, Brooklyn, NY

For anyone who would like to support Suzanne's mission, donations can be made securely online at ISSUE Project Room’s website or by mailing a check payable to ISSUE Project Room (please notate “Suzanne Fiol Memorial Fund” in the Memo Section) to 232 3rd Street, 3rd Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11215.