The arts are a universal language, allowing people of different cultures and backgrounds to communicate and understand each other. In New York City, where diversity reigns, the arts have been employed to smooth conflicts and promote cross-cultural cooperation. In Flushing, Flushing Town Hall and New York Institute of Culture and the Arts organize exhibitions, music concerts, dance performances, and cultural classes to incorporate the surrounding Asian community with other cultures. In Jackson Heights, open events and art galleries bring together artists of every culture from across the neighborhood to present their work locally. In Chinatown, institutions such as the Chen Dance Center have come to bridge the gap between the Chinese core and the surrounding American metropolis. There, traditional Chinese dance can be expressed through the Western lens of modern dance. In Bensonhurst, cultural integration is less noticeable. However, it is slowly developing a few streets at a time, such as with 86th street. This whole process reflects globalization, the coming together of all people and ideas regardless of location or physical barriers.

Follow the links below to learn more about Arts and Culture in specific communities: