ABOUT US
Emerging Artist Resources (EAR) helps artists navigate the administrative side of their creative careers with clarity and transparency. Based in the NYC metropolitan community, EAR supports individual artists and small organizations through shared resources, professional development, and artist-centered initiatives.
Our team is made up of active, working artists who also have backgrounds in arts administration. We understand the realities of being a professional in the field, and design systems that are practical, accessible, and sustainable. We view administration as a creative practice itself - one that shapes who gets to make the work, how that work is supported, and who is included in the cultural ecosystem. Rather than treating logistics as a barrier, we approach it as a tool that can open doors and create stability.
EAR is built to grow alongside the artists we serve. We listen, adapt, and develop resources in response to real needs in the field, offering a collaborative network of people who understand both the artistic and operational sides of the work.
COMMUNITY DRIVEN. SOLUTION
ORIENTED. ARTIST CENTERED.
KAYLA LAUFER
DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY
Kayla Laufer is the Director of Technology for Emerging Artist Resources (EAR), where she leads the development of the platform that supports artists, festivals, and opportunities across the dance community. Blending her background in computer science and dance, she designs clear, accessible tools that make it easier for artists to share their work and stay connected. Before joining EAR, Kayla worked at Addinex Technologies, a health-tech startup, and earned her M.S. in Computer Science from Fordham University and her BFA in Dance from the Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute. She is passionate about building technology that empowers artists. In addition to her work at EAR, Kayla is a freelance artist and currently dances with Eryc Taylor Dance, where she also serves as Rehearsal Director.
MEET THE TEAM
JULIA ASHER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ulia Asher is the Founder and Executive Director of EAR and a working freelance dancer based in New York City. She currently serves as the Artist Liaison for Dance on Camera and previously worked at Pentacle, where she managed the fiscal sponsorship program for the Foundation for Independent Artists, Inc.
She holds a dual degree from Johns Hopkins University: a BFA in Dance from the Peabody Conservatory and a BA in Natural Sciences, with concentrations in Neuroscience and Mathematics. This interdisciplinary background informs her approach to the arts, combining empathy with a solution-oriented mindset. As a practicing professional dancer, she ensures that every resource EAR creates is one she would use herself.
HARRY SUKONIK
Harry Sukonik, Co-Founder and Director of Finances at EAR, brings deep expertise in fiscal sponsorship, grant writing and management, and financial operations for artists and arts organizations. Prior to EAR, he served as Fiscal Sponsorship Associate at Pentacle, managing the Foundation for Independent Artists, where he worked closely with various dance companies and with EAR co-founder Julia Asher. With a background in Dance and Sociology from the Peabody Conservatory and Johns Hopkins University, Harry combines a rigorous financial skill set with a nuanced understanding of the performing arts. Alongside his administrative work, he performs as a freelance dancer with The Metropolitan Opera and Jennifer Muller/The Works, grounding EAR’s mission in lived creative experience.