Abrons Arts Center

The Abrons Arts Center is a division of Henry Street Settlement, which has provided social services and artistic programming to Manhattan’s Lower East Side since 1893. Abrons opened in 1975 to house Henry Street’s visual and performing arts alongside its community-based arts training. Two gallery... Read more

The Abrons Arts Center is a division of Henry Street Settlement, which has provided social services and artistic programming to Manhattan’s Lower East Side since 1893. Abrons opened in 1975 to house Henry Street’s visual and performing arts alongside its community-based arts training. Two gallery spaces exhibit contemporary works from emerging artists and diverse curatorial practices. The Visual Artist-In-Residence Workspace Program was established in 1978 to offer free studio space and professional development to visual artists, including Shirin Neshtat, Shinique Smith, Javier Tellez, and Simone Leigh. Our performing arts program inherits the century-long legacy of the Neighborhood Playhouse, where some of the most adventurous artists have trained, taught, or performed, including John Cage, Aaron Copland, Dizzy Gillespie, Martha Graham, Alicia Keyes, Alwin Nikolais, Denzel Washington, Laurie Anderson, Lou Reed and Orson Welles. Recent performances have been mounted by Public Art Fund, MoMA, and Performa.