City Lore is pleased to partner with The Association for Cultural Equity and EnuBuild sto present a new exhibition, “In Great Accord: The Accordion and the Immigrant City” curated by Kiki Smith-Archiapatti on view from June 23 through July 5, 2026 at the City Lore Gallery. The exhibition, explores the accordion through the lens of immigrant traditions in New York City, tracing how communities from around the world made the instrument their own. It celebrates the music, makers, and cultural traditions that have shaped the city’s diverse identity.The City Lore Gallery is located at 56 East First Street, Manhattan. Gallery hours are: Saturday and Sunday, 12 noon until 6 pm and by appointment, 212-529-1955 ext. 22.

There will be an opening reception on June 23rd at 6 pm. To RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-great-accord-the-accordion-and-the-immigrant-city-opening-reception-tickets-1989859926606?aff=oddtdtcreator

Public Programs: To learn more and RSVP for the Accordion Workshop on June 27th, and Dueling Accordions on June 30th, https://www.culturalequity.org/ingreataccord

The Great Accord resonates with City Lore’s 40- year legacy of documenting, presenting and advocating for the living cultural heritage of the city’s diverse immigrant communities. Through exhibits, education, and archiving City Lore celebrates grassroots cultures and ensure their legacy in local neighborhoods.

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION – From beer halls in the Lower East Side to cumbia clubs in Queens, the accordion has traveled the boroughs in the hands of immigrants, becoming a vessel for memory, identity, and belonging in New York City’s ever-changing neighborhoods. Carried across oceans and borders by waves of newcomers — German, Italian, Eastern European, Mexican, to name a few — the instrument took root in the city’s streets, dance halls, and living rooms, absorbing the sounds and stories of each community that embraced it. In Great Accord: The Accordion and the Immigrant City traces this rich and layered history through archival photographs, recordings, and artifacts that illuminate the accordion’s journey through New York’s cultural landscape. Contemporary interviews with musicians and community members bring the story into the present, offering a testament to the instrument’s enduring place in the life of the city, and the people who have claimed this unlikely instrument as their own, transforming it into a living archive of the immigrant experience.
This program is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION FOR CULTURAL EQUITY (ACE) – ACE was founded by Alan Lomax to explore and sustain the world’s expressive traditions with humanistic commitment and scientific engagement. ACE was registered as a charitable organization in the State of New York in 1983, and is housed at New York City’s Hunter College.”It still remains for us to learn how we can put our magnificent mass communications technology at the service of each and every branch of the human family.” – Alan Lomax. Their mission is to stimulate cultural equity through preservation, research, and dissemination of the world’s traditional music and dance, and to reconnect people and communities with their creative heritage. ACE is a living archive that puts its collections and works at the service of communities of origin, endangered cultures, emerging cultural leaders, students and teachers at all levels, and the scientific community. For more information visit: https://www.culturalequity.org/

ABOUT ENU BUILDS – ENU Builds Inc. is a New York State 501c3 non-profit organization based in Westchester County. Established in January of 2018, our mission is to help youth achieve their full potential by amplifying and celebrating their voices, the organization specializes in youth development through engagement and events. We connect youth with a wider community network, locally and beyond, providing solutions and services that match aspirations. We facilitate access to resources and support for the dreams of the youth, young adults, and families in our community.

About City Lore Gallery – The City Lore Gallery is a cultural hub that celebrates New York City’s vibrant cultural atmosphere and provides a platform for the myriad voices that comprise the city. The gallery presents exhibitions and events on all the things that make New York “New York.” From the golden age of graffiti, to endangered languages and activist comics, City Lore finds the art in everyday life.

About City Lore – Founded in 1985, and now an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, 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. In each of these realms, we see ourselves as furthering cultural equity and modeling a better world with projects as dynamic and diverse as New York City itself. For more info: http://www.citylore.org.
City Lore is grateful for support received from: Foundations: Lily Auchincloss Foundation, La Vida Feliz Foundation, New York Community Trust, Scherman Foundation, Public: New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council, New York State Council on the Arts with support of the Office of the Governor and New York State Legislature and Institute for Museum and Library Services.
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