Loisaida Inc. Center, is an accessible multidisciplinary project space, hosting residencies, internships, providing resources and opportunities for underrepresented and emerging artists, cultural workers, collectives and creators working in diverse disciplines while advancing the social, economic, cultural, and environmental well-being of low- and moderate-income residents of New York City’s Lower East Side.

 

photos by: Marlis Momber

 

Founded in 1978, Loisaida, Inc. provides multigenerational arts and cultural programs, youth and workforce development, environmental justice and clean-energy education, digital media and technology training, culinary and food-access initiatives, artist residencies, senior programming, and free community events. Our work preserves Puerto Rican, Nuyorican, Latinx, and immigrant heritage while expanding access to skills, resources, creative expression, and pathways to economic opportunity.

The mission of Loisaida, Inc. is to facilitate access to education, training and employment opportunities that ensure the overall improvement and economic development of the community. Loisaida, Inc. concentrates its human development efforts through comprehensive youth and family-centered initiatives that eliminate barriers to belonging, learning and to secure significant social and economic development opportunities as well as produce neighborhood revitalization activities that positively highlight our rich culture, heritage, and contributions to this City. 

We have since expanded on our original mission to open the Loisaida, Inc. Center’s multidisciplinary space for a multi-generational audience, emerging and underrepresented artists, cultural workers, community leaders, and creators working in diverse disciplines toward a shared goal of resiliency and sustainability.

Loisaida Inc. programs, projects and initiatives are supported in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), in partnership with the City Council and the office of the New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, and the New York State Legislature, City Councilwoman Harvey Epstein, NYS Assembly Member Keith Powers, the Manhattan Borough President’s Office and the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). We also, acknowledge the support of Acacia Network, & the Julio Martinez Memorial Fund, the Chicago Community Foundation.