When you support a community art school in NYC like the Educational Alliance Art School at Manny Cantor Center, you help keep the arts within reach of everyone on the Lower East Side. We are a nonprofit program of Educational Alliance — a New York institution since 1889 — and your gift directly sustains the classes, studios, and teaching artists that make our school a home for makers of every age and income.

Every contribution, large or small, helps us hold tuition down and keep our doors open to neighbors who might otherwise be priced out of an arts education.

A Century of Art Education on the Lower East Side

For more than a century, the Educational Alliance Art School has been a platform of opportunity for New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds — a place to pursue creative expression, skill acquisition, and a lifelong love of art. Alumni and faculty have included seminal artists such as sculptors Chaim Gross and Louise Nevelson and painter Mark Rothko.

We are guided by our belief that everyone, regardless of age, ethnicity, or socio-economic status, should have the opportunity for self-expression and lifelong learning. Supporting arts education in NYC here means investing in a tradition that has shaped American art — and that continues to shape the next generation of New York artists.

Where Your Donation Goes

Your donation to arts in NYC at MCC funds real, tangible things: scholarship support that lets a neighbor enroll in a ceramics or painting class, clay and glazes for the Members Studio, canvas and supplies for the adult and youth painting programs, and the youth art experiences that give Lower East Side kids their first encounter with making something by hand.

As an arts nonprofit donation in NYC, every gift is reinvested directly into accessible programming — not overhead. We are committed to transparency about how gifts are used, and we will send you an acknowledgment for your records.

An Arts Nonprofit Rooted in the Lower East Side

As an arts nonprofit on the Lower East Side, the Educational Alliance Art School has been part of this neighborhood’s cultural life for generations. Manny Cantor Center sits at 197 East Broadway, New York, NY 10002 — in the heart of the community the school has always served. Supporting arts education here means investing in a place where immigrants, longtime residents, students, and seniors have all found community through making.

Educational Alliance is a registered nonprofit, and contributions to the Art School may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Contact us at info@MannyCantor.org to learn more about giving opportunities, including memorial gifts and organizational support.

Ways to Give

You can make a one-time gift or set up a recurring donation to provide steady support for the Art School throughout the year. Educational Alliance is a registered nonprofit, so your contribution may be tax-deductible. Donate online using the button below, or contact us at info@MannyCantor.org to discuss other ways to give, including memorial gifts and organizational partnerships.

• One-time gift — any amount makes a difference; click Donate below.
• Recurring gift — monthly support provides the Art School with reliable resources year-round.
• Memorial or tribute gift — honor an artist, teacher, or loved one with a meaningful contribution.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I support arts education in the Lower East Side?

You can support arts education on the Lower East Side by donating to the Educational Alliance Art School at Manny Cantor Center, 197 East Broadway, New York, NY 10002. Gifts help sustain accessible ceramics, painting, and youth art programs for New Yorkers of all incomes.

Is Manny Cantor Center a nonprofit?

Yes. Manny Cantor Center is a community center and program of Educational Alliance, a New York nonprofit founded in 1889. Donations support the organization’s accessible arts education and community programming.

What does my donation to the art school fund?

Donations fund scholarship support, studio materials such as clay, glazes, paint, and canvas, and youth art programs. Gifts are reinvested directly into keeping tuition affordable and the studios open to all.

Is my donation tax-deductible?

Educational Alliance is a registered nonprofit, so contributions may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Contact info@MannyCantor.org for a gift acknowledgment, and confirm specifics with your tax advisor.

Explore the Programs Your Gift Supports

Your donation helps power every program we offer. Explore what you’re supporting:

• Art School & Classes — ceramics, painting, mixed media, and youth programs open to all ages and experience levels.
• Meet Our Faculty — the teaching artists who guide every class.
• Ceramics Members Studio — open-access studio for working artists and serious students.