Fourth Arts Block (FAB) is a non-profit organization founded in 2001 by cultural and community groups to establish and advance the East 4th Street Cultural District, between 2nd Avenue and Bowery.

FAB is working with our members to create a permanent home for the arts and to preserve the unique cultural nature of East 4th Street, which has fostered creative diversity and experimentation for more than 30 years. FAB advocates for the cultural district, its members and our neighborhood; leads centralized projects that benefit our members and provides a model for sustainable development; creates opportunities for cultural expansion; directs marketing and promotion efforts; and supports the development and capacity of our members.

Description and/or History:
East 4th Street between 2nd Ave and Bowery is home to more than a dozen arts groups, 10 cultural facilities, and 17 different performance and rehearsal venues. Due to FAB's activism and the support of local elected officials, in October 2005, the City sold 8 properties to the block's arts tenants for $1 each and designated it a Cultural District - the first in Manhattan and one of only two in the City.

East 4th Street occupies a unique position in the City's history, representing a century of focused artistic activity and social activism. The block has long been home to poor and immigrant interests, housing the first Yiddish theater, the Labor Lyceum, and ethnic social clubs. In the late 1960s, plans to raze the area were halted by neighborhood protest. Buildings cleared through eminent domain sat unused until La MaMa secured a 30-day lease from the City, and the new Off Off Broadway movement took off. Gradually other small groups moved in, and the block developed, into a nationally recognized incubator for new work and diverse artistic voices.

FAB's members have outstanding records for racial and ethnic diversity, free and low-cost programs, and training for emerging artists and youth. Each year, our members' programs serve more than 1,200 artists and attract an audience of more than 200,000. Once completed, the cultural district will transform 100,000 square feet of space into active cultural use - a powerful legacy in a City where affordable space for artists is an increasingly rare commodity.

Contact people:

Lauren Parrish, Program Coordinator, (212) 228-4670, (email) Tamara Greenfield, Executive Director, (212) 228-4670, (email)

Address:

61 E. 4th Street New York, NY 10003 (See a map)

Directions:

Take the Subway via the B, D, V, or V trains to Broadway / Lafayette St, via the F or V trains to 2nd Ave - Lower East Side R, or W trains to 8th St - NYU, or via the 6 train to Astor Place. Take the Bus via the 1, 8, 14A, 15, 21, 101, 102, 103.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: 6 to Astor Place,   Walk distance (in minutes): 5   Nearest Bus Stop: M18, 10 minute walk