FABnyc

Open Arts LES: Yi-Yi
2025-10-25 13:30 - 14:30 UTC | Avenue B Open Street, Avenue B between E 8th Street & E 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
YiYi, a Ukrainian folk group composed of Caroline Kuhn, Katie Pawluk, and Zoya Shepko, breathes new life into traditional Ukrainian songs through unconventional arrangements and a diverse mix of instruments, including the bandura, violin, banjo, hutsul drum, cello and accordion. Their performances are characterized by three-part polyphony, creating rich sonic tapestries that transport audiences from lively party vibes to poignant moments of heartbreak.

Open Arts LES: Nolan Nwachukwu Project
2025-10-25 15:00 - 16:00 UTC | Avenue B Open Street, Avenue B between E 8th Street & E 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Nolan Nwachukwu Project’s music features a combination of diverse original compositions and new, funky interpretations of contemporary songs and jazz standards. The compositions and arrangements performed by the group are infused with a blend of African-American genres, including gospel, jazz, R&B, soul, funk, and other world music.
About Nolan Nwachukwu
Nolan Nwachukwu is a bassist, composer, and producer based in New York City. Originally from South Florida, Nolan studied Jazz at the Dillard Center for the Arts under the direction of Christopher Dorsey. With Nolan on bass, the DCA band achieved 2 straight top-3 finishes at the Essentially Ellington national competition, including an award for outstanding rhythm section and an honorable mention on bass. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music, under the guidance of Buster Williams, Marc Cary, Kendrick Scott, and John Benitez.
Since relocating to New York, Nolan has begun collaborations with acclaimed artists and musicians such as J’Nai Bridges, Damien Sneed, Michael Mwenso and the Shakes, Tyreek McDole, Miles Lennox, Savion Glover, Miki Howard, Jon Batiste, Ruben Fox, Willerm Delisfort, Tina Fabrique, Brandon Woody, Cisco Swank, FORAGER, Jillian Grace, Imani Rouselle, Reuben James, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Nolan has performed at many notable venues and festivals including Dizzy’s @ Jazz at Lincoln Center, Mintons Playhouse, Smalls Jazz Club, Carnegie Hall, MET Art Museum, City Winery (New York, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia), NPR Tiny Desk (Home), Monterey Jazz Festival, Montclair Jazz Festival, South Beach Jazz Festival, Umbria Winter Jazz Festival, and Burlington Discover Jazz Festival amongst others.
Nolan currently performs throughout various venues in NYC and tours nationally and internationally between different groups, including FORAGER, Michael Mwenso & The Shakes, and Electric Root’s Production: The Sound of (Black) Music.

Democracy as Creative Practice
2025-12-10 18:30 - 20:30 UTC | FABnyc, 70 East 4th Street, New York, NY, 10003, United States
Presented by Village Preservation in collaboration with FABnyc
Democracy is fragile, as we are learning. Can we renew it by fostering more democratic ways of interacting in our neighborhoods? The East Village has long been home to cultural institutions that play a key role in bringing communities together. What role might they play in promoting a more vigorous form of everyday politics and stimulating a collective commitment to democratic engagement?
Join us as we grapple with these questions around a Long Table, a format created by artist Lois Weaver to foster open-ended, non-hierarchical participation. We will be joined at the table by neighbors, representatives from many of our leading arts organizations, and, we hope, you.
Our host for the evening will be Dr. Andrew Zitcer, an urban planner and cultural organizer based in Philadelphia. He is the co-creator of Democracy as Creative Practice: Weaving a Culture of Civic Life. Dr. Zitcer will facilitate our Long Table conversation and help us prepare for the event with prompts that get us thinking about the relation between arts and political engagement.
Join us at the Long Table as we engage in a collective practice of democratic co-creation. Participants thus far include:
Pepe Flores (Co-Founder, La Sala de Pepe)
Molly Garfield (Co-Director, City Lore)
Andrea Gordillo (Cultural strategist and local civic leader)
Judy Hussie-Taylor (Executive Director, Danspace Project)
Lyn Pentcost (Co-Founder, La Sala de Pepe)
Sara Zatz (Artistic Director, Engagement, Pink Fang, formerly known as Ping Chong and Company)
C. Joi Sanchez (artist, WOW Cafe Theater)
maura nguyen donohue (Great Jones Repertory Company)
Andrew Zitcer is the director of the Urban Strategy graduate program, and an associate professor of Arts Administration. He teaches courses in civic engagement, research design and methods, creative placemaking, and cultural policy. Andrew’s research focuses on cooperative social and economic practices, as well as the role of arts in sustaining democracy. He is the author of Practicing Cooperation: Mutual Aid Beyond Capitalism (University of Minnesota Press, 2021) and co-edited with Tom Borrup, Democracy as Creative Practice: Weaving a Culture of Civic Life (Routledge, 2024).

Raul Ayala: Creative Action with Immigrant Communities (Creative Action Network workshop)
2026-04-01 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | FABnyc, 70 East 4th Street, New York, NY, 10003, United States
RSVP here
Raul Ayala’s practice bridges art, social engagement, and pedagogy through large-scale paintings, site-specific installations, collaborative murals, performance, and other public interventions. Raul has an extensive history collaborating with immigrant and indigenous communities on installations, murals, community ritual, and direct action campaigns in NYC and Quito, Ecuador.
Recent local projects include collaborations with Green-Wood Cemetery, El Museo del Barrio, Make the Road NYC, and the weekly vigil at the Brooklyn Detention Center.

Sign up for Creative Action Network (CAN) Workshops!
FAB is a offering a series of workshops for artists and cultural organizers — with opportunities to learn from experienced artist/activists about their work and how they approach it.
All workshops are free; advance reservations are needed. Spaces are limited.
All workshops take place at FABnyc, 70 East 4th Street, New York NY 10003.
This is a fully accessible building.

Theatre of the Oppressed NYC: “Starter Kit” (Creative Action Network workshop)
2026-04-29 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | FABnyc, 70 East 4th Street, New York, NY, 10003, United States
RSVP here
Theatre of the Oppressed is a global practice based on the work of Brazilian theatre director Augusto Boal, and informed by the teachings of Paulo Freire. It engages people’s innate abilities at physical storytelling to spark dialogue, analyze power dynamics, and rehearse future actions. By pairing accessible games with thought-provoking discussions, the tools support groups in making connections between personal lived experience and systems of oppression. During this workshop, we’ll explore core activities that can be easily adapted to bring creativity and play into discussions that community organizers want to hold. The workshop will include discussion of strategies to adapt the activities to fit access needs, your facilitation styles and your organizing work.

Sign up for Creative Action Network (CAN) workshops!
FAB is a offering a series of workshops for artists and cultural organizers — with opportunities to learn from experienced artist/activists about their work and how they approach it.
All workshops are free; advance reservations are needed. Spaces are limited.
All workshops take place at FABnyc, 70 East 4th Street, New York NY 10003.
This is a fully accessible building.

Lower East Side History Month 2026 Launch Celebration
2026-05-01 09:30 - 10:30 UTC | FABnyc, 70 East 4th Street, New York, NY, 10003, United States
Lower East Side History Month 2026 Launch Celebration
Friday May 1
9:30am – 10:30am
FABnyc, 70 East 4th Street
Outdoors (if weather permits)
Toast to the LES Community at 10:00am!
Launch event includes breakfast with home-baking, and chalking 4th Street sidewalks with LES trivia!

Open Arts LES: Sonido Costeño
2026-05-07 17:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | FABnyc, 70 East 4th Street, New York, NY, 10003, United States
Open Arts LES is back on 4th Street. Stop by for Latin music and salsa with our neighborhood favorite, Sonido Costeño!
Sonido Costeño (SC) is a modern day latin band in New York City. Their high energy music is a creative fusion of latin music and salsa along with other world music and their fabulous concerts transform their club audiences into dance hall performances. Sonido Costeño’s “staying power” is seen by the ensemble’s growing loyal fan base from not only the New York City area (Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens) but also the tri-state area and abroad.
JuanMa Morales, founder of Sonido Costeño is a Cornell Graduate and Julliard alumni. Morales leads the band as vocalist and plays guitar as well as the Puerto Rican cuatro (the island’s national instrument). Las Gaviotas (The Seagulls) and Senora (My Lady), two of Morales’ original songs, have won the Billboard Songwriting award. Under Juan Ma’s dynamic leadership, Sonido Costeño play diverse salsa rhythms, enticing “salseros” and non-salsa dancers alike to move onto the dance floor. The band’s dance repertoire includes: Son Cubano, Nueva Trova, Boleros and Ballads, Cha Cha Cha, Mambo, Guaguanco, Latin Jazz, and the band is known to play a Merengue and Bachata or two. Their unique sound appeals to broad and diverse audiences from all generations.

Open Arts LES: Duo Chuño
2026-05-09 13:30 - 14:30 UTC | Avenue B Open Street, Avenue B between E 8th Street & E 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Chuño is an experimental music duo originated by two Argentinian musicians, percussionist Franco Pinna and singer Sofia Tosello. Chuño blends the rhythms and melodies of South and Central America, using the “Arpa Legüera”, an instrument that evokes the sounds of a Charango, African Kora, and Asian Koto. Arpa Legüera was invented and crafted by Franco Pinna in 2013.

Open Arts LES: Chalk Lower East Side Trivia!
2026-05-09 13:30 - 16:00 UTC | Avenue B Open Street, Avenue B between E 8th Street & E 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Come by & chalk some colorful LES trivia as well — we’ll provide the chalk & the trivia!
Plus, Duo Chuño performs Latin songs with self-customized percussion, Jamile Trio plays Brazilian Jazz.

Open Arts LES: Jamile Trio
2026-05-09 15:00 - 16:00 UTC | Avenue B Open Street, Avenue B between E 8th Street & E 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
With a deep and versatile voice, vocalist, composer, and educator Jamile is carving out a unique space for herself in today’s music landscape. She captivates audiences with her unique phrasing and heartfelt tone, and impresses listeners with her virtuosity, impeccable vocal control, and extraordinary percussive approach. With a rich musical background, Jamile’s plurality is undeniable.
As recognized by the press, “She can sing most anything” (Suzanne Lorge, New York City Jazz Record): from wordless big band pieces to straight ahead jazz, from soul to bolero, not to mention the music from her home country, Brazil.

"On the ground where we might find": 2026 LES Young Artists of Color Fellowship Exhibition
2026-05-15 18:00 - 2026-05-17 17:00 UTC | FABnyc, 70 East 4th Street, New York, NY, 10003, United States
An exhibition of works by FABnyc’s 2026 Lower East Side Young Artists of Color Fellows
70 E 4th Street, New York NY 10003
FREE with RSVP
Opening Reception: Friday, May 15th, 6-9pm
Open Gallery Hours
Saturday, May 16th: 1pm-5pm
Sunday, May 17th: 1pm-5pm
Featured Artists: Benji Hsu, Coralis Rivera, Daniel Marte, Jewel Champbell, Kendall Greene, Mei Bock, Natalia Boumatar & Nia Blue
In On the ground where we might find, the eight artists experiment with ways of being with others, caring for each other, and remembering together. The pieces are participatory in nature: some are directly inspired by existing community archives, while others attempt to break the ground for one. Anchored in feelings that are meant to be shared: camaraderie, gratitude, nostalgia, and grief, the exhibit explores emotional complexities within a sense of community.

FAB’s 2026 Lower East Side Young Artists of Color Fellowship supports early career artists in exploring creative practices centered on community engagement and cross-sector collaboration. The 2026 LES Young Artists of Color Fellowship was facilitated by Ari-Duong Nguyen.
Graphic design by Coralis Rivera. This fellowship is supported in part through funds from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.

Shaun Leonardo & Pastor Isaac I. Scott: Workshop with the Arts Justice Safety Coalition (Creative Action Network workshop)
2026-05-20 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | FABnyc, 70 East 4th Street, New York, NY, 10003, United States
RSVP here
Shaun Leonardo is a multidisciplinary artist whose work negotiates societal expectations of manhood, most often definitions surrounding black and brown masculinities. His work has been featured at the Guggenheim Museum, the High Line, and the New Museum, he recently joined Socrates Sculpture Park as its Executive Director.
Pastor Isaac I. Scott is an artist, researcher, minister, and organizer, serving as Director of Community Initiatives at Another Choice Youth and Family Outreach and youth minister at Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church where he leads the Confined Arts program, an initiative using art as a tool for public safety, reentry, and advocacy.

Sign up for Creative Action Network (CAN) Workshops!
FAB is a offering a series of workshops for artists and cultural organizers — with opportunities to learn from experienced artist/activists about their work and how they approach it.
All workshops are free; advance reservations are needed. Spaces are limited.
All workshops take place at FABnyc, 70 East 4th Street, New York NY 10003.
This is a fully accessible building.

Open Arts LES: Mencius Society for the Arts
2026-05-21 17:30 - 19:30 UTC | FABnyc, 70 East 4th Street, New York, NY, 10003, United States
Mencius Society for the Arts presents its very own Cantonese Opera Circle — a sampling of the Chinese music and songs of the Cantonese opera repertoire, showcasing a time-honored tradition of communal music making that remains popular in Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Chinatowns all over the world. This program will feature both romantic and vibrant (warrior) musical styles in a distinctive interplay of melody (kookpaai) and rhythmic structure (bonging).
Mencius Society for the Arts, a nonprofit arts service organization rooted in Manhattan’s Chinatown and Lower East Side, dedicated to sustaining traditional Chinese arts among immigrant communities. https://menciussociety.org/

Loisaida Festival 2026
2026-05-24 12:00 - 17:00 UTC | Loisaida Avenue, Avenue C, New York, NY, United States
As is tradition, FAB will be at the Loisaida Festival this year!
Since 1987, the Loisaida Festival has been celebrated the Sunday before Memorial Day weekend in the Manhattan neighborhood known as Alphabet City, the East Village, or “Loisaida.” Presented in the Avenue C cultural corridor — renamed Loisaida Avenue in 1989 — it is considered the largest community festival in the neighborhood.

Closing celebration of Lower East Side History Month 2026
2026-05-30 08:00 - 17:00 UTC | “The Pit”, Sara D Roosevelt Park, Sara D Roosevelt Park between Delancey St and Broome St, New York, NY, United States
Join us for an outdoor closing celebration of Lower East Side History Month 2026
Saturday May 30th
Free
“The Pit”, Sara D Roosevelt Park between Delancey and Broome
organized by FABnyc with the Performance Project at University Settlement

4:30 PM ‘Tongues’ by Yibin Wang – storytelling and interactive games about native languages
5:30 PM BombaYo – a joyous session of bomba, Puerto Rican & African influenced song-drum-dance
6:45 PM DASO Y EL GRUPO CEMI- brings Loisaida to the dance floor, blending salsa, reggae, bomba, jíbaro, and hip hop.
plus hands-on artmaking and community info tables

FABnyc programs are supported in part by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and City Council Member Christopher Marte

FAB25! Celebrating 25 years of Fourth Arts Block!
2026-06-17 18:00 UTC | FABnyc, 70 East 4th Street, New York, NY, 10003, United States
A community party and benefit for FAB celebrating our 25th year!
Reserve your tickets here: https://secure.givelively.org/event/fourth-arts-block-inc/fab25-celebrating-25-years-of-fourth-arts-block

Open Arts LES: Jamile Jazz Trio
2026-06-25 17:30 - 18:30 UTC | East 4th Street Open Street, 70 East 4th Street, New York, NY, 10003, United States
With a deep and versatile voice, vocalist, composer, and educator Jamile is carving out a unique space for herself in today’s music landscape. She captivates audiences with her unique phrasing and heartfelt tone, and impresses listeners with her virtuosity, impeccable vocal control, and extraordinary percussive approach. With a rich musical background, Jamile’s plurality is undeniable.
As recognized by the press, “She can sing most anything” (Suzanne Lorge, New York City Jazz Record): from wordless big band pieces to straight ahead jazz, from soul to bolero, not to mention the music from her home country, Brazil.
Jamile’s unique sound also proclaims itself through her distinct repertoire, a combination of modern and Brazilian jazz that is rarely heard. Recognizing the importance of celebrating the present and future of jazz, her authenticity inevitably transpires through anything she does, especially her original work.
Her latest EP “A Collection of Delusions and Occasional Truths” (La Reserve Records), showcases a side of her that is both visceral and intellectual, combining free-form poetry with elaborate music written for guitar and voice.
https://www.jamilemusic.com/

Open Arts LES celebrates Pride: WOW Café Theater - Doomsday Cabaret
2026-06-25 18:30 - 19:30 UTC | East 4th Street Open Street, 70 East 4th Street, New York, NY, 10003, United States
Doomsday Cabaret will feature performances by Doomsday Crew (Bleu Santiago, Jasmina Jz Sinanovic, Lorraine LaPrade), Joi Sanchez and guests. In between performances they will invite neighbors to join in some singing and dancing – they call it the 4th Street Dance Karaoke!

Open Arts LES: Wen-Ting Wu Jazz Trio
2026-06-27 13:30 - 14:30 UTC | Avenue B Open Street, Avenue B between E 8th Street & E 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Drummer, composer, and educator Wen-Ting Wu is a versatile artist from Taiwan based in New York City. As an artist, she strives to create a space of freedom, honesty, empathy and expression using music as a vessel, a spiritual ritual, to generate positive energy and bring people together. Derived from deep self reflections and observations from the current world we live in, “Write what you wish for” -said Wayne Shorter, is always a guidance she follows when she creates.
Her past release includes the 2021 trio project “Pause & Effect” released on ESP-Disk. Following this, she received the Silver Lining New Artist Award in 2022, leading to the commission of “As a Women…,” an evocative 19-minute Jazz Suite she wrote featuring Mimi Jones and Neta Raanan. Her commitment to creative exchange also led to her being selected as a member of the M3 (Mutual Mentorship for Musicians) program cohort 8 in 2025, resulting a new duo commission project.
Besides being a regular member in Grammy-winning artist Frank Lacy’s Septet and Classical Jazz Ensemble, and AAPI Jazz Collective, she has performed with Jazz greats such as Ed Cherry, Charenee Wade, Mimi Jones, Bertha Hope, Pat Bianchi, and Lonnie Plaxico to name a few. She has played in prestigious venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center, Smoke Jazz Club, Smalls Jazz club, The Met Museum, National Sawdust, Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and more. She has also toured internationally at major music festivals with Indie-pop band Sunset Rollercoaster. Her collaborations with other artists span across genres, ranging from Jazz, Avant-garde, Funk, Contemporary music, to singer/songwriters, and experimental theater productions. Wen-Ting is endorsed by Canopus Drums.

Open Arts LES: Killa Vibe
2026-06-27 15:00 - 16:00 UTC | Avenue B Open Street, Avenue B between E 8th Street & E 9th Street, New York, NY, 10009, United States
Killa Vibe: Emilia Matamoros and Marko Tam Panflute are a dynamic musical duo based in New York City. Emilia, a singer-songwriter with Ecuadorian roots, blends Latin pop, R&B, and traditional Ecuadorian music with heartfelt vocals. Marko, a master of Andean wind instruments, brings the soul of the Andes through the sounds of the panflute. Together, they create powerful and emotional performances that connect deeply with diverse audiences. Their duet brings a fresh and authentic voice to Latin and Andean music, honoring tradition while reaching new generations.
