D.U.M.B.O. Arts Center

the center's executive director Karl Erickson explains to Crane.tv why D.U.M.B.O. has been of pivotal importance in turning the once seedy, abandoned Dumbo (which stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) neighborhood into a vibrant, cultural hub.

Born out of the visual arts and music festival, Art Under the Bridge, in 1997, the D.U.M.B.O. Arts Center was Brooklyn's first non-profit arts organization that provided a platform for local artists to express themselves. Nearly fifteen years on and the center has become a cultural Mecca for local artists hoping to break into the New York art scene, as well as providing much needed amenities to neighborhood residents - including a library, workshops and children's classes.