Jamaica Performing Arts Center: Events and Visiting Tips

Jamaica Performing Arts Center (JPAC) is a 400-seat multipurpose venue in the former First Reformed Dutch Church of Jamaica, a landmark building dating to 1858. It is operated by Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL), which has offered public arts programs and arts education in Queens since 1972.

JPAC programming spans theatre productions, music concerts, film festivals, dance performances and arts education. The space is also available for productions, special events, seminars, rehearsals and meetings.

Past and recurring program names on JCAL’s performing-arts calendar include Making Moves Dance Festival, Meet the Playwright, Riddim Section, Thursday Night Jazz, Riddim and Jazz Festival, A Weekend of West African Dance, and Strength Courage & Wisdom.

Thursday Night Jazz is a monthly series, with performances on the second Thursday of each month from October through May at 8 pm. General-admission tickets are $10. Seniors aged 62 and older, and students who live or work in a 114 ZIP code, can receive free seats by showing ID and a piece of mail with their current address.

For current listings, start with JCAL’s event calendar. Event listings link to ticket or RSVP pages, including Eventbrite, so check the details for the specific performance before making plans. JCAL also offers a year-long membership that provides free or deeply discounted entry to events, classes and workshops.

Some of the series connect across the calendar: Thursday Night Jazz and Riddim Section culminate each summer in the annual Downtown Jamaica Riddim & Jazz Festival in King Manor Park. You can pair an event visit with a look at the nearby King Manor Museum in Jamaica.

JPAC is at 153-10 Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11432. The center is about an 11-minute walk from Airport Plaza Hotel JFK Airport. JCAL publishes the street address but does not provide separate entrance instructions, so allow time to locate the venue when you arrive.

For subway access, the E or J/Z route goes to Jamaica Center, Parsons Boulevard/Archer Avenue, followed by a walk to Jamaica Avenue. The F train stops at Parsons Boulevard, Hillside Avenue.

Bus routes serving the venue area include Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q8, Q9, Q9A, Q21, Q24, Q25, Q31, Q34, Q36, Q41, Q42, Q43, Q44, Q54, Q56, Q65, Q83, Q84, Q85, Q110, Q111, Q112, Q113, N1, N2, N3, N6, N22, N22A, N24, N26 and X32. For more on the area’s connections, see this Jamaica subway and transit guide.

JPAC’s published information does not specify its accessibility provisions, parking arrangements, recommended arrival time or general admission policies. Those details may depend on the event, so check the event listing or contact JCAL at (718) 658-7400 before you make plans.

Build your evening around the performance listing: confirm its start time, ticket or RSVP requirements, and any event-specific details before setting out. JCAL lists gallery hours of Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am–9 pm, for the separate Jamaica Arts Center at 161-04 Jamaica Avenue; those are not published public hours for JPAC. Check the official site before you go.

If you need a place to stay nearby, Airport Plaza Hotel JFK Airport is a short walk from the venue.