VAVA hits the big screen

Grab your popcorn and a cocktail (or two) and join us in honoring the achievements and impact of Jim Hubbard, Tourmaline, and James Wentzy as VAVA steps into the theatre for an evening of screenings and celebration. Hosted by the incomparable Viva Ruiz.

In this moment of crisis, we look to the luminaries who have helped show us other ways to fight back, the value of documenting our own histories, and the power of coming together to tell our stories. We invite you for nostalgic theatre fare from James Beard nominated chef Eric See at Ursula BK, cocktails, and great company as we gather to reflect on the early AIDS movement, where we are today, and where we want to go.

ARTISTS AND ACTIVISTS LEAD THE WAY FORWARD: This celebratory evening of screenings and community will honor Jim Hubbard (co-founder of MIX NYC, director of United in Anger, and founder of the ACT UP Oral History Project); filmmaker, writer and artist Tourmaline; and iconic AIDS activist and documentarian James Wentzy. Read more about our incredible honorees here.

WE WANT YOU THERE: Visual AIDS has always been a community organization that values inclusivity and access. VAVA is evolving away from a dinner gala into a grassroots fundraising event that welcomes and celebrates our broad and expansive community. We want long-time supporters and new faces to come together to support our work and celebrate the vital work of this year's honorees.

DRESS CODE: Wear your favorite protest t-shirt (dress it up, if you'd like). Casual, fun, and/or funky summer cocktail chic. Above all be comfortable and come as your are!

All tickets and donations go towards supporting our vital work during this challenging time for organizations like ours.

AIDS IS NOT OVER! 42.3 million people have died from AIDS related causes and 40 million people are living with HIV worldwide today. Current US policies have thrown global HIV and AIDS care into deep uncertainty, including the freezing of funds for PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and cutting of funds to USAID. Federal funds that support LGBTQ organizations are being cut and flagged, and our trans community, especially those with compounding marginalization like living with HIV, are trying to be erased.

WHY VISUAL AIDS IS IMPORTANT: Since 1988, Visual AIDS has utilized art to fight AIDS by provoking dialogue, supporting HIV+ artists, and preserving a legacy, because AIDS is not over. Our history includes the creation of the Red Ribbon, major programs like Day With(out) Art, and using art to fight stigma. Today Visual AIDS remains the only arts organization committed to carrying forward the early AIDS movement while bringing contemporary dialogue around HIV/AIDS forward. The renowned Visual AIDS Archive and its associated programs provide direct support to artists living with HIV and serves to correct gaps in art history for underknown artists lost to AIDS. The Archive and our online Artist Registry supports a network of over 1000 artists from around the world. In Spring/Summer 2025, Visual AIDS marks a new chapter in institutional partnerships with two major museum exhibitions to correct gaps in the canon: Love Rules: The Harm Reduction Archives of Heather Edney and Richard Berkowitz (MoMA PS1) and Ministry: Reverend Joyce McDonald (Bronx Museum of the Arts).

Images above (clockwise from top left): Jim Hubbard, Two Marches (video still, 1991); Tourmaline and Sasha Wortzel, Happy Birthday, Marsha (video still, 2018); Jim Hubbard, Two Marches (video still, 1991); stills from James Wentzy's ACT UP documentation as part of Ho Tam's The Book of James (2002); Tourmaline, Atlantic is a sea of bones (video still, 2017)

VAVA VOOM 2025

Honoring Jim Hubbard, Tourmaline, and James Wentzy

Team Members