View of Our New Home from Flatbush and Lafayette Avenues.

In 2024, 651 ARTS will realize its long-envisioned dream to operate from its own facility. 

For 35 years, 651 ARTS has been a presenter of innovative performing arts from the African Diaspora, partnering with allied organizations throughout Brooklyn to present our dynamic programming without a permanent home.

However, 2024 will be a watershed moment in 651’s history as we will become the operators of a 12,500 sq ft, state-of-the-art multi-purpose space at 10 Lafayette in Downtown Brooklyn’s Cultural District.

This evolution positions the organization to serve as a needed home for Black contemporary art and art makers within the facility, the borough, and beyond.

Our new facility at 10 Lafayette will feature:

• A blackbox theater space.
• Three studios, two with a sprung dance floor, for rehearsals, showings, lectures, etc.
• Two conference rooms.
• A suite of offices.
• A gallery and gathering space.

Our signature performance space, the blackbox theater, will expand our presenting initiatives by welcoming audience members to innovative productions that celebrate and uplift the art of the African Diaspora. The theater is 31′ x 49′ and will have a state of the art lighting & sound system and a permanently mounted projector & screen.

Rendering of Studio 1 from overhead.

We are especially thrilled to strengthen our artist development initiatives and grow and codify our community engagement and education initiatives through our three studios. Two of the studios feature sprung dance floors, dance barres, mirrors, and a wall mounted TV for video playback. They also feature full height windows to allow for natural sunlight but offer the option of solar shades for privacy or blackout shades to create a performance-like atmosphere.

The third studio offers a permanently mounted projector with roll down screen and speakers allowing for lectures, screenings, or educational activities.

Finally, 10 Lafayette allows for the development of our new subsidized space rental program that will grow our partnerships by welcoming both artists as well as local Brooklyn businesses into our multipurpose spaces.

Growth is never easy. Thanks to the support of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, our network of institutional supporters, and our family of community partners and advocates, 651 ARTS is poised to expand and deepen its role as a community leader, convener, and cultivator of artists and curators in historic and innovative ways. 651 ARTS stands firmly on our 35-year foundation with the vision and strategic planning necessary to activate the programmatic potential of 10 Lafayette.

All renderings provided by Andrea Steele Architecture.