BERG Collective Hosts Free Friday Night

Throughout the Whitney

The Whitney is partnering with the Black Employee Resource Group (BERG) Collective to co-host a special  Free Friday Night, welcoming Black professionals in tech, sports, beauty, and entertainment to the Museum. Join us for an insightful panel discussion and enjoy an evening of dynamic DJ sets, sipping cocktails with iconic views from our terraces, and making lasting connections.  

From Collection to Connection: A Dialogue on Art, Technology, and New Forms of Patronage—ticketed 
Floor 3, Theater
6–7:15 pm
In an era of rapid digital transformation and shifting social networks, Whitney Biennial 2026 explores the intricate webs of relationships and infrastructure that bind us together. Join The BERG (Black Employee Resource Group) Collective for a forward-looking conversation on how Black cultural production thrives within these evolving systems. Moderated by Roger C. Tucker and featuring Carolyn “CC” Concepcion, Ara Tucker, and Joshua Woods, this conversation examines how technology both challenges and supports models of art patronage and collection. Together, we will consider how to build and sustain new structures within the art world that prioritize community through change.

DJ Set by Ty-Michelle 
Floor 1, Lobby
7–10 pm 
Born and raised in New York City, Ty-Michelle has been influenced by various genres of music, to which she credits her grandfather. Her unique style, talent, and versatility have placed her in front of crowds throughout New York City and across Europe. When behind the decks, Ty-Michelle sets out to take listeners on a journey through every set.

Network, Mix and Mingle
Floors 1, 8 
Enjoy cocktails, wine, and beer for purchase at a pop-up bar in the Lobby, Frenchette Bakery, and the Studio Bar and terrace. 

BERG Collective members are invited to stop by the group’s info table in the Lobby to learn more and pick up a sticker indicating your interest in networking over the course of the evening. 

Photo Booth 
Floor 1, Lobby 
5–9:45 pm 
Capture the night and create shareable memories with friends old and new at our free digital photo booth. 

Artmaking: Ecological Expression 
Floor 3, Artspace
5–9:30 pm
Create compositions inspired by human relationships with our natural world. Sketch, trace, and make texture rubbings guided by themes of inter-species dependence in Whitney Biennial 2026. No previous art experience is required—everyone is welcome. 

About the speakers

Roger C. Tucker III is the Founder and Director of Tucker Contemporary Art, an advisory supporting collectors and institutions in acquiring and promoting emerging artists. Drawing on experience in art, marketing, and education, he advances the careers of African American and other underrepresented artists who challenge traditional boundaries in the contemporary art world. A recognized voice in social media, Tucker advocates for greater inclusivity in the arts. He holds a BFA from The Cooper Union, an MS from Pratt Institute, and a certificate in Art Business from NYU, and has served in leadership roles with The Cooper Union and GlassRoots in Newark.

Carolyn “CC” Concepcion is a multi-disciplinary creative entrepreneur whose work resists easy categorization, because it grapples directly with the complex systems that make business and culture work.  She currently runs her bespoke creative strategy and design studio courtesy of c. From developing explorations in storytelling, brand strategy, cultural innovation, and experience design for artists, entertainers, entrepreneurs, brands, and institutions, CC excels at uncovering insights, creating unique opportunities that shape the future, foster community, and expand the realm of what’s possible. She is a New Museum IDEAS CITY Detroit Fellow, holds a Master's degree from NYU in design strategy, cultural innovation & storytelling and is one of the co-founders of ARTNOIR, a global arts collective and non-profit organization that catalyzes cultural equity across the arts and culture industries. CC also sits on the board of Ghetto Gastro, a Bronx-born culinary collective defining its own lane, merging food, fashion, music, art, design, and community empowerment.

Ara Tucker is an advisor, novelist, podcast host, and board director focused on uncovering the true story behind complex challenges and the cost of leaving it untold. Ara has held executive leadership roles across law, finance, media, and healthcare, including Chief People Officer at Flatiron Health and Cityblock Health, and senior leadership at Audible. Ara currently serves as a board director and Audit Committee Chair at MoMA PS1, and on the boards of The Dermot Company and Meditation4Leadership. Ara holds a J.D. from NYU School of Law and an A.B. from Princeton University, and is the author of three novels, host of the podcast I’m Here Too, and creator of Nepo Baby: The Architecture of Advantage.

Joshua Woods is a photographer and visual artist working between New York and Paris. His multidisciplinary practice—spanning photography, fashion, film, and printmaking—explores Black life, identity, and everyday culture through a nuanced, observational lens. He first gained recognition for a self-funded photographic journal of Senegal published in The New Yorker and has since worked with leading publications and brands including Vogue, The New York Times T Magazine, Chanel, and Gucci. Woods has also collaborated with The Metropolitan Museum of Art on the 2025 exhibition Superfine, producing a series of portraits engaging both the public and his extended community. His ongoing work includes a long-term book project documenting his neighborhood Harlem NY exploring personal and collective histories, transformation, and belonging.