Artists Alliance Incorporated (AAI) believes that the arts and individual artists are an essential element of the culture, history and future of the Lower East Side. AAI advances this philosophy by nurturing, supporting, and exhibiting the work of under-recognized and emerging artists who live or work in the community, and by welcoming artists and others engaged with contemporary visual arts to the Lower East Side. In strengthening and developing connections between artists and the broader community, AAI promotes a vital component in the area's diverse community.

The relationship between creativity, community, and place—and especially their confluence on Manhattan’s Lower East Side—are at the heart of AAI’s endeavors. We were founded in 1999 by a group of artists with studios in a former school building at the corner of Suffolk and Rivington Streets, and from our very first day we have worked to improve the area for everyone working, creating, living, or visiting here. In all of our programs we emphasize collaboration and co-operation. We have organized exhibitions with community businesses, we have developed education programs for children and public school students, we have provided free or low cost studio space for many artists, and we have introduced thousands of individuals to the cultural life of the Lower East Side.

Our professional development programs have helped many artists advance in their careers and this, together much of our other programming, has encouraged new and necessary economic activity in the area. With our gallery in the Essex Street Market, we have given exhibition opportunities to hundreds of artists, offered curators a chance to share their vision, and brought contemporary art to the community.

Our programs have always responded to changing needs: the Lower East Side is an area of flux, and while we defend vigorously all that is good about the neighborhood, we have the flexibility to present new opportunities and to develop new resources as they are needed.

Today's Programs include:

Lower East Side - Rotating Studio Program
Free six month art studio space designed to stategically benefit artists through providing space to create and develop new works.

CUCHIFRITOS gallery and project space located right in the heart of the Essex Street Food Market. Designed to give independent curators a voice, showcase emerging and underrepresented artists, and to create direct interaction between art and community.

Art(inter)Actions are designed to promote interaction and debate within the local Lower East Side community including the artists who are living and working here, and to develop alliances and connections between art institutions in a variety of communities.

Exhibitions and events take place at Cuchifritos gallery and project space as well as AAI's annual contribution to the HOWL! festival in the East Village with its free art education workshops for children; Splash! and Safe Toxic Non Sharp workshops provide a chance for children and adults within the community to work creatively alongside experienced art professionals.

Open Studios creates further interaction between artists and community as well as creating opportunities for artists to show work, and to create new work for a specific event.

Image: Vistors viewing Maria Jose Duran's Nightlight, 2010, Yarn and photographs, Dimensions variable. On view during A Curious Thread, curated by DTL Projects. September-October, 2010. Photo Credit: Diane Vivona: Courtesy of the artist and Cuchifritos gallery and project space

Our past programs included:

107 Suffolk Street Long-Term Studio Program
Affordable long term art studio space for professional working artists, with a special focus on provideing space for artists who come from the local community.

PROJECT SPACE The Artist's Alliance's gallery space at 107 Suffolk Street, promoting interaction with local communities, and providing forums for artists.

School Programs allow members to employ their collective art making skills in order to share with school children a knowledge about the processes by which art is made.

Net.Art Space gives new digital artists server space as well as a supportive venue in which to show their work.

AAI works toward promotion of the visual arts, providing a forum for artists, and furthering recognition of the vital culture within the Lower East Side and all of New York City.