Description

“ABC No Rio was a vital, dangerous and confrontational art space on the Lower East Side.” - John Leland, The New York Times

Born from a 1979 break-in of an abandoned building, ABC No Rio became one of New York’s most fiercely independent homes for radical art, activism, and community. For nearly a decade, it’s existed on sheer will without a permanent home, taking its exhibitions, punk matinees, performances, workshops, printmaking, and organizing wherever its collective could gather. 

Now, after years of organizing, fundraising, and fighting to stay alive, ABC No Rio is almost home again, this time in a brand-new four-story building designed to perform as boldly as its mission. 

Built using the Passive House methodology and high-performance energy strategies, the new center pairs low-carbon, environmentally responsible design with highly adaptable spaces for a new generation of artists and organizers. Join ABC No Rio Executive Director Gavin Marcus and architect Paul A. Castrucci for a tour of the building at 156 Rivington Street. 

Explore the galleries, performance spaces, artist studios, printshop, darkroom, zine library, digital media lab, communal kitchen, roof garden, and more. Learn how adaptable design, sustainable materials, and high-performance systems come together to create a building built to sustain ABC No Rio for generations. 

Tours: 11 am and 12 pm ET 

Duration: 1 hour 

Capacity: 30 per tour