Since its founding in 1988, 651 ARTS has been committed to developing, producing and presenting performing arts and cultural programming grounded in the African Diaspora, with a primary focus on contemporary performing arts. 651 ARTS serves the cultural life of New York City, with a particular focus on Brooklyn, one of America’s most culturally diverse communities.
Taking our name from our Fulton Street address, 651 ARTS presents work from our home at the BAM Harvey Theater as well as other venues around Brooklyn. 651 ARTS has worked with over 800 artists and ensembles—from Cuba to Trinidad, Senegal to South Africa, Brooklyn to Brazil and back—on more than 350 projects and presentations. 651 celebrates a broad range of cultural traditions, striving to forge alliances with artists, audiences, fellow cultural institutions, and local organizations to promote a uniquely open environment for creative expression and community partnership.
The roster of local and internationally-acclaimed artists from around the globe who have taken part in 651 ARTS programs and presentations is long and distinguished, and includes:
Germaine Acogny/Compagnie Jant-Bi, Geri Allen, Vincente Archer, Amiri Baraka, Toni Blackman/Freestyle Union, Bre Dance Theatre, Ronald K. Brown/Evidence, Donald Byrd/The Group, Betty Carter, Cyrus Chestnut, Nora Chipaumire, Compagnie Salia Nď Seydou (Burkina Faso), Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Doug Elkins Dance Company, Ensemble Koteba d’Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Rha Goddess, Wycliffe Gordon, Abdullah Ibrahim, Jazzberry Jam!, Sarah Jones, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Spike Lee, Ralph Lemon, Abbey Lincoln, Vincent Mantsoe, Dianne McIntyre Ensemble, Bebe Miller Company, Okwui Opokwasili, Philadanco, Tito Puente, Vernon Reid, Rennie Harris Puremovement, Max Roach, Cleo Parker Robinson, Abdel R. Salaam/Forces of Nature, Anna Deavere Smith, Roger Guenveur Smith , Dakota Staton, Sekou Sundiata & Craig Harris, Marc Anthony Thompson aka Chocolate Genius, Union Dance Company (London), Lula Washington Dance Theatre, Dr. George Walker, Randy Weston, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar/Urban Bush Women
