Lead Partners

nico w. okoro, Founding CEO of BLDG FUND, LLC and Erik Clemons, Founding CEO of ConnCAT & ConnCORP pictured in Orchid Gallery, and arts initiative they co-launched in 2024

Since its founding in 2020, The Building Fund has collaborated with lead partners ConnCORP, The New Haven Free Public Library, Long Wharf Theatre, and IG New Haven to produce over thirty contemporary art exhibitions, public programs, and educational workshops, in addition to a community audit/action plan and toolkit for inclusive art procurement in Greater New Haven. Read below to learn more about each initiative.

ConnCORP

Image from the opening reception of Beholder. (C) Kamilla Bork, The Narrative Project

In the fall of 2023, Erik Clemons–Founding CEO of ConnCAT and ConnCORP–contracted nico w. okoro of The Building Fund to design, develop, and operationalize a dedicated space for art and artists on ConnCORP’s Hamden campus. In the spring of 2024, Orchid Gallery was born and it has since become a destination for emerging artists and Black culture in New Haven.

Orchid Gallery–an alternative exhibition space showcasing artworks by regional, early- to mid-career artists of color–was established to meet the following community needs:

  • to invest in artists as visionary yet economically marginalized creative entrepreneurs

  • to build accessible, culturally-specific space in Greater New Haven

  • to mobilize art and artists as drivers of community impact and social change

Orchid Gallery is powered by a spirit of innovation and experimentation, and celebrates artists who boldly question and envision creative solutions to the socio-economic issues that disproportionately impact Black and brown communities.

Orchid Gallery is located on the ground floor of The Lab at ConnCORP, located at 496 Newhall Street in Hamden.

Orchid Gallery is open to the public Monday - Friday, 9am - 4pm and by appointment. To book an appointment, please email the@bldg.fund.

ORCHID GALLERY: EXHIBITIONS ARCHIVE
ORCHID GALLERY: EXHIBITIONS ARCHIVE

The New Haven Free Public Library

Image from the Black New Haven Archive: A Collective Memory Project by Allison Minto, at Stetson Library. (C) nico w. okoro, The Building Fund

Over the past five years, The Building Fund has partnered with multiple branches of The New Haven Free Public to both produce and present community programs, educational workshops, and contemporary art exhibitions. These artist-powered platforms for community engagement provide informal opportunities for neighbors of all ages and from all backgrounds to engage visionary art and artists, on their own terms. Building upon the generosity of Diane Brown, Branch Manager at Stetson Library, and Marian Huggins, Branch Manager at Mitchell Library, The Building Fund has enhanced our city’s public learning environments, connecting readers to important, living sources of inspiration.

NHFPL: PROJECT ARCHIVE
NHFPL: PROJECT ARCHIVE

Long Wharf Theatre

Long Wharf Theatre’s Homecoming Parade in October 2022. (c) Lotta Studio

In 2022, nico w. okoro was contracted by Jacob Padrón, Artistic Director at Long Wharf Theatre, to support the organization in mobilizing its community stakeholders through the transition from a traditional brick-and-mortar production model to a community-powered, itinerant theater for the people. 

Padrón's radical vision for the future of the organization aligned with work okoro supported as co-lead of the Studio Museum in Harlem’s, inHarlem initiative, which empowered the museum to continue evolving its program in partnership with civic and cultural organizations while under construction.

Sharing Long Wharf’s values of artistic innovation, radical inclusion, and revolutionary partnerships, The Building Fund supported a cross-departmental team of leaders in developing high-level strategy for the development of Long Wharf Theatre’s Inaugural Community Cabinet, a collaborative initiative aimed at inspiring co-creation between the theatre and its neighbors.

LEARN MORE
LEARN MORE

IG New Haven

In 2025, nico w. okoro was contracted by Dawn Leaks Ragsdale, Executive Director of IG New Haven, to serve as strategic consultant and content lead for Buy New Haven:A Guide to Purchasing Local Art.

This free guide is designed to help organizations bring the creativity of New Haven artists into their spaces by offering practical, inclusive strategies for sourcing art locally. Step‑by‑step guidance walks you through how to identify, connect with, and purchase from local artists, ensuring that your investment not only enhances your environment but also strengthens the city’s creative economy. 

By following this toolkit, businesses can transform procurement into a powerful act of support—celebrating local talent, reducing barriers for artists, and contributing to a more vibrant, equitable New Haven.

DOWNLOAD
DOWNLOAD


  • "The Orchid Gallery offers a uniquely inclusive and affirming space that uplifts the voices and work of Black and Brown artists from across generations. It serves as a vital platform for both emerging and established artists to share their work in a setting that honors their creativity, lived experiences, and cultural narratives. The gallery brings together a beautifully diverse audience—racially, economically, and across age, gender, and identity lines—fostering meaningful dialogue and connection through art."

    — Tagan Engel, Founder & Producer/Host, The Table Underground & Enroue Halfkenny, Babaláwo Onígbọ̀nná

  • “The Orchid Gallery in a community space does more than exhibit artwork—it creates a gathering place where culture is shared, Artists are amplified, and creativity becomes a bridge between people.”

    — IfeMichell Gardin, Founder & Executive Director, Kulturally LIT

  • “Orchid Gallery is quite an experience—a multi-sensory experience! It has deepened my appreciation for contemporary art and its ability to foster connection and dialogue within the community.”

    — Alisha Crutchfield, Owner, BLOOM

  • "What sets Orchid Gallery apart is its deeply welcoming and accessible environment. Housed in a former school building that is Black-owned and operated, and located in a community of color, the space itself challenges traditional notions of who belongs in the art world. It replaces intimidation with invitation. The curatorial vision of nico w. okoro is particularly noteworthy; her commitment to thoughtful, artist-centered curation is evident in every detail—from studio visits to the poignant questions she asks during artist talks."

    — Tagan Engel, Founder & Producer/Host, The Table Underground & Enroue Halfkenny, Babaláwo Onígbọ̀nná

  • “Orchid gallery brings artists and their artwork to an exhibition space that did not exist prior to its creation! ConnCorp showcases excellence in business, entrepreneurship, community engagement and most importantly now the arts!”

    — Babz Rawls Ivy, Editor-in-Chief, The Inner-City News