Founded in 1985, City Lore’s mission is to foster New York City – and America’s – living cultural heritage through education and public programs in service of cultural equity and social justice.  City Lore encompasses a Lower East Side gallery space, performances, lectures, the People’s Hall of Fame, a POEMobile that projects poems onto walls and buildings, and programs throughout the five boroughs.

We document, present, and advocate for New York City’s grassroots cultures to ensure their living legacy in stories and histories, places and traditions. We work in four cultural domains: urban folklore and history; preservation; arts education; and grassroots poetry traditions. In each, we seek to further cultural equity and model a better world with projects as dynamic and diverse as New York City itself.

Meet City Lore’s staff and board of directors.
Founded in 1985, City Lore’s mission is to foster New York City – and America’s – living cultural heritage through education and public programs. We document, present, and advocate for New York City’s grassroots cultures to ensure their living legacy in stories and histories, places and traditions. We work in four cultural domains: urban folklore and history; preservation; arts education; and grassroots poetry traditions.
Our Favorite Quotes about City Lore & more.
City Lore is deeply grateful to all of our funders and members for making our work possible.
City Lore was founded in 1986 to produce programs and publications that convey the richness of New York City’s cultural heritage. Increasingly our many efforts embrace national audiences as well. We are a non-profit membership organization. As a member you will receive special premiums upon joining and you are eligible for discounts on tickets to City Lore events.