22nd Annual River to River Festival:: June 2023

June 9 – 18, 2023

Presented by LMCC (Lower Manhattan Cultural Council)

The River to River Festival is a free summer arts festival that showcases diverse and interdisciplinary works by artists in New York City. It is presented by LMCC (Lower Manhattan Cultural Council), a nonprofit organization that supports and empowers artists and communities in Lower Manhattan.

The festival has been around since 2002, when it was launched as a response to the 9/11 attacks and aimed to revitalize the downtown area through cultural events. Since then, it has grown to become one of the leading arts festivals in the city, attracting thousands of visitors and featuring hundreds of artists.

This year, the festival will celebrate its 22nd edition and LMCC’s 50th anniversary. It will run from June 9th to 18th, 2023, and feature 12 presentations of live art, performances, and participatory events in public spaces throughout Downtown New York. The festival will explore themes of reclamation, resistance, and interconnectivity, and highlight the work of many LMCC alumni.

Look below on this page for a listing of the events taking place along with corresponding links.

Some of the events include:

• El Camino: Stories of Migration, a visual exhibition by Nuevayorkinos that amplifies stories of Caribbean and Latin American (im)migration to New York City.
• Mahicantuck, “River that flows two ways”, a participatory tape installation by Marta Blair that will be created with the public around Battery Park City.
• Lottery, a performance lottery of one-on-one encounters by Lotto Royale, featuring a rare constellation of seventeen artists who share performances, practices, and journeys through the cityscape for one audience member at a time.
• Barchive, a studio residency and public program by AUNTS that hosts special guest artists, bartenders, mini performances, talks and gatherings at The Arts Center at Governors Island.
• Little Syria, New York: Washington Street Historical Society Tours, guided tours by Linda Jacobs that explore the history and legacy of the early Manhattan Syrian/Lebanese colony.
• al Qalam: Poetry in the Park, a musical performance and poetry reading by the New York Arabic Orchestra and two reciters who celebrate the literary contributions of the early Arabic-speaking community in Lower Manhattan.

Schedule:

El Camino: Stories of Migration
Nuevayorkinos

On view June 9 – 30
Opening Event: June 9, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm drop-In
The Seaport (Fulton Market building windows)

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Mahicantuck, “River that flows two ways”
Marta Blair

June 10, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm, drop-in
June 11, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm, drop-in
Belvedere Plaza, Battery Park City

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Lotto Royale

June 10, 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
June 11, 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Meeting location: TBD
Performance Times: 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm, 5:00 pm, 6:00 pm

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Archive Barchive
AUNTS

June 10 – 18, program of events at various times
Studio A4, The Arts Center at Governors Island

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Little Syria, New York: Washington Street Historical Society Tours

June 11, 13, & 15 Tours 11am – 12:00 pm
June 17 Tour 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

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al Qalam: Poetry in the Park

June 17, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
The Battery, Labyrinth Garden
FDR, Battery Pl, New York, NY 10004

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Zero Station
Molly Lieber and Eleanor Smith

June 12, 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Flamboyan Theater, The Clemente

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Los Olvidados
Antonio Ramos and The Gangbangers

June 15, 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
La Plaza, The Clemente

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Andros Zins-Browne

June 16, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
June 18, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Outlook Hill, Governors Island

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Talk to Me About Water
Amelia Winger-Bearskin

June 16, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Lower Gallery, The Arts Center at Governors Island, 110 Andes Road

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LMCC’s Workspace Open Studios

June 17, 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
101 Greenwich St.

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River To River 2023 Closing Concert
Natu Camara

June 17, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Rockefeller Park, Battery Park City