Abrons Arts Center

Abrons Arts Center is a prominent cultural institution located at 466 Grand Street at Pitt Street in New York City's Lower East Side. It operates under the umbrella of the Henry Street Settlement, a social service agency established in 1893. The center is dedicated to fostering contemporary interdisciplinary arts and is deeply rooted in the belief that access to the arts is fundamental to a free and healthy society. Established with the mission to serve as a home for the arts, Abrons Arts Center engages the community through a variety of programs, including performance presentations, exhibitions, educational initiatives, and artist residencies. The center's activities are designed to mobilize communities and harness the transformative power of art. The Abrons Arts Center is recognized for its commitment to inclusion and diversity. It upholds a Declaration of Inclusion that emphasizes the importance of freedom of expression and creativity. The center strives to provide a space that supports diversity of thought and experience, ensuring that it is an anti-oppressive environment welcoming to individuals from all backgrounds. It explicitly states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, citizen status, ancestry, age, housing status, religion, legal system involvement, disability, sex, or gender identity. The center is dedicated to revising its inclusivity statement in collaboration with its communities as societal definitions of expression and inclusion evolve. In addition to its artistic and educational programs, Abrons Arts Center is also known for its acknowledgment of the indigenous land on which it resides. The center is situated on the Lenape island of Manhahtaan (Mannahatta) in Lenapehoking, the traditional homeland of the Lenape people. Abrons Arts Center pays respect to the Lenape peoples of the past, present, and future, recognizing their enduring presence in the homeland and the Lenape diaspora. The center has expressed its commitment to resisting colonialism and environmental imbalance through the support of Indigenous-led programming and artistic practices. This commitment is exemplified by its partnership with the Lenape Center and Emily Johnson in developing its Indigenous Land Acknowledgement. The Abrons Arts Center operates with extended building hours to accommodate a wide range of events and activities. It serves as a vital hub for artists and audiences alike, contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of New York City and the broader arts community.