Join us at Luther Gulick Park for an arts day with Abrons Arts Center! See below for the list of activities:

Come make your summer-themed collage with Abrons Arts Center teaching artist Emily Manwaring. Play with vibrant colors and joyous images to create an original masterpiece based on your unique interpretation of this magical season. All supplies will be provided.

In this high-energy and community-centered session led by Abrons teaching artist Aatifa Drayton, we will explore the rich cultural traditions of West African dance from Mali and Guinea. Accompanied by live drumming played by Desmond Howard, each demo will offer an engaging experience rooted in cultural expression, joy, and connection. Open to all levels and all ages. No prior dance experience necessary. Come ready to dance and most importantly, as you are!

This event is part of the SPARCS initiative, bringing free, community-driven activities to your neighborhood. Come move, stretch, and find your headspace — right in your neighborhood.

About SPARCS: Since February 2023, 3и3, in collaboration with CUNY’s Center for Systems and Community Design (CSCD) and Partnerships for Parks, has been working to develop and launch co-designed, park-based programming in four New York City parks. This initiative explores how parks can serve as catalysts for improving residents’ physical and mental well-being.

About Abrons Art Center: Abrons Arts Center is a home for contemporary interdisciplinary arts in Manhattan’s Lower East Side neighborhood. A core program of the Henry Street Settlement, Abrons believes that access to the arts is essential for a thriving city. Through performance presentations, exhibitions, education programs, and residencies, Abrons mobilizes communities with the transformative power of art.

SPARCS Goals: At its core, SPARCS examines how community-led activations in neighborhood parks can influence health-related outcomes. The study focuses on mental health and well-being indicators — such as anxiety, stress, and loneliness — as well as social and physical well-being measures.

About Luther Gulick Park Arts Hub: The Luther Gulick Park Arts Hub was created in response to community feedback, highlighting a desire to celebrate the neighborhood’s cultural diversity and bring people together through the arts.

Residents expressed a strong interest in creative programming as a way to foster connections among the park’s diverse communities, with many eager to see workshops and events that showcase music, dance, visual arts, and storytelling from different cultures.

With the park’s open gathering spaces, seating areas, and dedicated recreation zones, the program is designed to host a wide range of activities, including live performances, interactive art workshops, and community-led cultural celebrations.

Time: 2:00 pm EDT

Free!

Registration