Attention Labs Archive

Since the spring of 2022, our team has facilitated Attention Labs for over 1,000 participants across the United States and internationally. The following photographs offer a peek into our experiential workshops!

Level 1 Attention Lab
March 26th, 2025

Level 1 Attention Lab
March 4th, 2025

Level 1 Attention Lab
February 13th, 2025

A person wearing a black jacket is using a flip phone inside a dimly lit room. They are standing near a glowing table lamp on a wooden surface.
Reflection of three people sitting inside a room, seen through an oval mirror with a gold frame on a white wall. A table with a plant, water bottle, and various items is on the left. A cushion with a green pattern is in the lower right corner.
People wearing masks indoors interacting with each other.
A diverse group of people sitting in a circle indoors, engaged in a discussion or meeting. The setting is informal, with warm lighting and a relaxed atmosphere. Some individuals are holding papers or notebooks.
A group of people standing and talking in a room with string lights, chairs, and plants. Some are looking at artwork on the wall, while others engage in conversation. Bookshelves and a large window are visible in the background.
Two people having a conversation indoors, sitting in front of a bookcase with books, under warm lighting. The man gestures with his hands, wearing glasses and a smartwatch. The woman listens attentively.

SoRA Kickoff Weekend
January 25th/26th, 2025

A group of four people sitting in a circle on folding chairs in a room with natural light coming through windows. One person is speaking with a friendly expression, holding a notebook, while others appear to listen attentively. The atmosphere appears casual and conversational.
Two women laughing and talking in a room with a sofa and a desk lamp.
A woman in glasses, sitting thoughtfully, holding papers labeled "Freiflächen Workshop."
A group of people engaged in a discussion, sitting in a semi-circle of chairs, with framed photographs on the wall behind them. The setting appears to be a casual meeting or workshop in a well-lit room. One person is actively speaking while others listen and take notes.
Two people sitting closely, facing each other, with open hands raised as if in conversation or connection.
Three people indoors, one looking out a window, others in profile.

University of Mount Saint Vincent, Riverdale, NY
16 November, 2024, 1-3pm

Person in a museum observing a stained glass window, pointing up with a pen, with sculptures on the walls.
Group of people socializing inside a room with wooden beams.
People on a veranda overlooking a lake and autumn trees through white arches.
A group of people engaged in a casual discussion in a modern room with wooden beams.
Five people standing in front of a large arched window, with sunlight streaming in. They are facing the window, seen from behind, against a brick wall backdrop.
Group of people standing on a porch with an arched view of a river and wooded hills in the background.

University of Houston
11 October, 2024

Two people taking photos upwards with smartphones outdoors.
Legs of people standing on gravel with distinct shadows forming different hand shapes on the ground.
A group of people sitting in pairs engaging in a meditation or mindfulness exercise in a classroom setting.
Four people standing with eyes closed outdoors, appearing contemplative, with trees and a building in the background.
Two people having a conversation with focus on hand gestures, one person facing the camera, the other partially in view.
Group of people participating in a mindfulness or communication exercise, sitting in chairs, extending their hands towards each other in a classroom setting.

Culture Academy Attention Lab
5 October, 2024. 10:00 - 1pm
DUMBO

This Attention Lab was made possible through a collaboration with Reflect EU&US

Group discussion event with seated participants in a room with large windows and a view of a bridge.
A group of people taking photos on a rooftop with views of urban architecture, including a clock tower building and a bridge over a river. It's a clear day with blue skies.
A group of people seated in a circle in a modern, industrial-style room with large windows, discussing or participating in a meeting or workshop. Some individuals have notebooks and pens, suggesting note-taking.

SOMA•SOUND 2.0
19 May, 2024. 6:30 - 9:00pm
East Williamsburg

SOMA·SOUND, our somatic, dance-based Attention Lab, is a special collaboration between two SoRA facilitators:
Detroit emcee Troy Mitchell and New York performance artist Amalia Mayorga.

A group of people sitting cross-legged on the floor with eyes closed, participating in a meditation or mindfulness session in a dimly lit room with a blue hue.
People dancing in a dimly lit club with a DJ in the background.
A group of people in a dimly lit room, one person sitting on a stool smiling, holding a booklet, with others seated or sitting on the floor, possibly attending a casual event or gathering. A metallic decorative star is on a table nearby.
Group of people dancing in a colorful, dimly-lit room during a party.
People lying on the floor under colorful lights, appearing relaxed, possibly in a group meditation or relaxation setting.
Group dancing in a dimly lit space with colorful lighting.

Attention Lab Gowanus
20 April, 2024. 1:00 - 4:00pm
Gowanus, Brooklyn

Person wearing a "Hello, my name is" badge with a handwritten name and pronouns, looking at someone pointing.
A person speaking to a seated group in a casual indoor setting.
People sitting in a circle on chairs inside a room with wooden floors and white walls. One person is standing and speaking to the group.
Two women sitting on red chairs, engaged in a conversation, one wearing a denim jacket and the other a white shirt, in a room with wooden flooring and more empty chairs.

Manny Cantor Center
23 Mar, 2024. 1:00 - 4:00pm
Lower East Side

A group of people in a discussion session. A person in a bright green blouse is standing and speaking, while others are seated, listening, and taking notes. Name tags are visible, and they are indoors with a decorative tapestry in the background.
Person taking a selfie indoors in front of a wet window, holding a phone with a colorful case, wearing a striped shirt and gold earrings.
A group of four people seated in a circle inside a room with large windows, engaged in discussion. One person is raising their hand while others listen. They have name tags and notebooks.
People sitting in a circle having a discussion in a room with large windows showing a city view.
Five people standing behind chairs, using smartphones, in a room with a wood floor.
A group of people having a discussion in a room with neutral-colored walls and ceiling lighting. A person in a blue denim shirt is speaking, with several others standing around, facing them. The setting appears informal, suggesting a casual meeting or workshop.

Saint Ann’s School
18 Mar, 2024. 5:00 - 7:00pm
Brooklyn Heights

Two women seated and talking in a room, one with gray hair and the other wearing a beanie, surrounded by chairs and bags.
Group discussion in a modern art gallery with people seated in a circle.
Three people sitting on chairs in a casual setting, with two of them smiling and engaged in a conversation, while the third looks down. They are in a room with concrete walls and a speaker in the background.
A group of people sitting on chairs in a circle in a room, engaging in a discussion or workshop. The setting appears to be casual and informal, with papers and refreshments on side tables. The participants are engaged in conversation, sitting in small groups.

Attention Lab Riverdale
24 Feb, 2024. 12:00 - 3:00pm
University of Mount Saint Vincent

A group of people seated in a circle, pointing their fingers upwards during a group activity in a room with wooden floors and a brick wall.
A group of people smiling and sitting in a circle, focusing on a young man wearing a light blue shirt with a name tag.
People standing indoors, one person in profile wearing glasses, another looking upward.
A group of people sitting in a circle in a large room with high ceilings and exposed beams. The attendees are engaged in a discussion, with one person standing to speak while others sit, some taking notes. The room has windows with natural light and the floor is hardwood.
A person wearing a gray hijab and black sweater is seated in a wooden pew, writing on a piece of paper with a blue pen. Another person is blurred in the background, sitting with legs crossed.
Group discussion with diverse participants sitting in a circle, some holding papers, one person speaking, wearing a red beanie and a colorful jacket, and another in a yellow cap.

Attention Lab Greenpoint
17 Feb, 2024. 1:00 - 4:00pm
NOoSPHERE Arts

Person in a blue hoodie speaking with expressive hand gestures in a room with blurred background, including a seated person and abstract artwork.
Two men sitting on chairs in an art gallery, displaying hand gestures, with abstract paintings on the walls behind them.
People taking photos of abstract paintings in an art gallery with smartphones.
Group of people in an industrial-style room with exposed brick walls, seated and standing around a modern art installation. One person is gesturing toward the spiral art piece. Paintings in background.

Attention Lab Hells Kitchen
November 18th, 1:00 - 4:00pm
Prime Produce Cooperative

People holding fingers up in a classroom setting, possibly participating in an activity or lesson.
Group of people standing on a sidewalk looking upwards, near trees and parked cars, in an urban setting.
Group of people seated in a room, one wearing a shirt that says "SORRY I HAVEN'T CALLED." The person next to them wears a purple bandana.

Attention Lab LES
October 21st, 1:00 - 4:00pm
Manny Cantor Center

With generous support from the 14th Street Y.

Three people taking photos of a cityscape from a rooftop with smartphones, surrounded by tall buildings and partly cloudy sky.
Person holding a paper airplane on a rooftop, with city skyline in the background and a cloudy sky.
A group of people sitting in a circle on chairs in a brightly lit room with large windows, engaged in a discussion or workshop.
Person holding a VR headset, overlooking city skyline.
A group of people sitting in a circle, engaged in conversation in a bright room with wooden floors. They hold notebooks and pens, suggesting a discussion or workshop setting. Background includes other groups of people sitting on chairs.

SOMA•SOUND Attention Lab
September 22nd, 6:00 - 8:30pm
Barnard Movement Lab

SOMA·SOUND, our somatic, dance-based Attention Lab, is a special collaboration between two SoRA facilitators:
Detroit emcee Troy Mitchell and New York performance artist Amalia Mayorga.

People sitting in a dark room watching colorful circular patterns projected on a blue background.
A group of people sitting in a circle under red and blue lighting in a dark room.
People sitting in a dimly lit room with colorful lights and a DJ setup in the foreground.
Person speaking to a seated audience in a dark room with colorful projection of Earth on the wall.

Brooklyn Museum
September 19th, 11am-12:30pm

Exterior of a large, illuminated classical building with columns, dome, and steps leading to an entrance. The sky is dusk.

Courtesy Ennead Architects

On September 19th, Attention Lab facilitators met with the present cohort of the Brooklyn Museum’s Museum Education Fellowship Program. We led a workshop on museum-specific attention practices and discussed the future of museum spaces as “sanctuaries of attention.”

Attention Lab Prospect Park
September 2nd, 2pm-5pm

Person holding a red packet, standing in an outdoor gathering with people in the background.
A group of diverse people sitting on a concrete ledge outdoors, attentively listening, with trees in the background.
A woman stands outdoors speaking to a seated group, with trees in the background. The group appears engaged, and a table with a cloth is in the foreground.
Group of individuals standing in a lush green forest area, observing nature, on a sunny day.

Attention Lab Brooklyn 3
138 S. Oxford Street
July 22nd, 12pm-3pm

A group of five people standing in a room with wooden walls and floors, some smiling and wearing name tags. One person in the foreground is wearing a red and white patterned dress, with arms outstretched, seemingly talking or performing. Others are casually dressed, standing in a semi-circle, participating or observing.
A group of people seated in a circle in a wood-paneled room.
Two women sitting by a window in conversation, with one woman taking notes on a notepad.

Attention Lab Brooklyn 2
138 S. Oxford Street
July 8th, 12pm-3pm

Five people standing outside, facing away, raising smartphones to take photos, wearing casual clothing with graphic prints, near a black fence with trees and a house in the background.
Casual discussion in a meeting room with people seated on chairs, one woman smiling and gesturing with a paper in hand, others listening and holding beverages.
Indoor scene with person near audio equipment, speakers on table, and people seated in background.

Attention Lab Manhattan
Prime Produce Cooperative
424 W 54th St
June 18th, 1pm-4pm

Group of diverse people sitting in a circle on folding chairs, engaged in a discussion in a spacious, minimalist room with white walls and a concrete floor.
A group of people engaged in conversation indoors, with a woman wearing glasses and a light-colored top energetically expressing herself.
A man in a yellow plaid shirt and beige cap sits on a metal fence holding papers, near parked cars and a tree on a city street.
Two people in a discussion where one person, wearing a white cap and black shirt, is holding a cup and gesturing. The other person is partly visible, wearing an orange and black patterned clothing.

Attention Lab Pamplona
University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain
May 23rd-25th

A group of people seated in a circle in a large room, with one person standing in the center. The walls have colorful, abstract artwork. The setting suggests a workshop or seminar.
People engaged in a group discussion or workshop, sitting in chairs, and talking with each other in pairs.
Two people having a conversation in front of a green painted wall. The man is smiling, wearing glasses and a light shirt.
Two people sitting back-to-back on chairs, writing in notebooks. A woman with short red hair wearing a white shirt is in the foreground. A man in a striped shirt and glasses is in the background.

Attention Lab Brooklyn
138 South Oxford St, Brooklyn
April 29th, 2-4:30pm

A group of people sitting in a circle in a room with wooden paneling, participating in a reading or workshop session, holding papers.

Rio de Janeiro Lab
Escola de Artes Visuais do Parque Lage
April 15th, 2-5pm

A large group of people posing together in a room with ornate walls, featuring a mix of men and women of various ages.
A diverse group of people seated in a circle engaging in discussion inside a room with patterned walls. A painting of white birds against an orange sky is displayed in the background.
Two women conversing at a social event, one wearing an orange top and glasses, the other in a patterned shirt. Blurred crowd in the background.
Group of people standing in a room with art on display, focused on a woman in the foreground with arms crossed.

Monira Foundation Lab#3
Mana Contemporary, Jersey City
25 March 2023
2pm — 5pm

Three people having a discussion, with one woman gesturing while talking and two others listening, wearing casual clothing.
People viewing colorful twisted metal sculpture in gallery

Attention Labs "Test Kitchen"
520 8th Ave, 3rd Floor, Manhattan
18 March 2023
3pm — 5:30pm

A group of people sitting in a circle in a room with large windows. They appear to be engaged in a discussion or meeting. The room has a piano, black curtains, and a table with books and water bottles. The setting is informal, reflecting an educational or collaborative environment.

The inaugural "Test Kitchen" was a collaborative workshop dedicated to the development and implementation of new Practices of Attention. Participants experimented with scripts, guided exercises, manuals, choreographies, poems and other media as diverse forms of "structured experience." Through discussions and group activities, we explored the use of attentional practices in activist organizing, mediation, facilitation and the creation of social change. Our efforts produced over a dozen new Practices of Attention.

Jersey City Lab #2
Priscilla Gardner Main Library, NJ
Feb 23rd, 2023

A group of five people sitting in a circle on chairs, engaged in a discussion or meeting. Some have notebooks or papers, suggesting a collaborative or educational setting. The room has a wooden floor and white walls with a stack of folded chairs in the background.
A group of five people seated in a circle on chairs, engaged in discussion, in a room with wooden floor and dark curtains.

Jersey City Lab #1
Priscilla Gardner Main Library, NJ
Feb 11th, 2023

Group of people seated in a circle having a discussion indoors
Person in a beige coat and black headscarf sitting on a bench in a park, writing in a notepad, with urban background and cars on the road.
A group of five people seated in a circle having a discussion. They are sitting on folding chairs with notebooks in hand. The background features dark curtains and a wooden floor.

Seattle Public Library Labs
Beacon Hill Library, WA
11 Jan & 18 Jan 2022

A group of people sitting in a circle inside a room with high wooden ceilings and large windows. They seem engaged in a discussion or meeting, with most individuals focused on a central speaker. Casual attire is worn, and the room appears to be a community or conference space with a screen mounted on the wall.

Monira Lab #2
Jersey City, NJ
13 Nov 2022

In partnership with Katharina Gruzei and participating artists of Right Time, Right Place

A group of people sitting in a circle inside an art gallery, participating in a discussion or workshop. Artworks are displayed on the walls, and the room features white walls and an open layout.
Person sitting on grass near sidewalk with colorful mural in background and parked cars.

Amplify Lab
Brooklyn, NY
18 Oct 2022

Crowd of people gathered on a street beneath a large bridge, surrounded by brick buildings in an urban setting.

Sanctuaries of Attention
Bennington College, VT
2 Oct 2022

Person kneeling on grass in an outdoor park setting
Group of people sitting and lying on grass outside a modern building on a sunny day.

East Harlem Lab
Agile Learning Center NYC
6 Aug 2022

Street view of a colorful mural on the side of a brick building, with painted figures and text. Below, a storefront with "The Original House of Fragrances" is visible. Several cars are parked on the street, and a street sign indicates "156th St" and "Amsterdam Ave."

Monira Foundation Lab
Jersey City, NJ
30 July 2022

Gallery with colorful circular artworks on walls, group of people sitting in chairs in discussion.

"I feel like I am leaving with my attention primed, and in tune with myself in the present moment."

"It helped me re-frame my thinking around the things that are important to me."

"It was highly generative, and it facilitated an opening up of attention -- a stepping back from the 'ruts' in my attentional landscape, ruts carved by the imperative to 'produce.'"

Democracy Prep, Mount Saint Vincent Labs
American Academy of Arts and Letters
Manhattan, NY
March and April 2022

Two people standing indoors, one wearing a black sweater and glasses on their head, gesturing with their hand, and the other in a plaid shirt with a neutral expression.
A hand drawing on paper with crayons, featuring a sun, text "First Gen," clock, and bracelet.
People sitting outside a neoclassical building, one on a bench writing, another on a ledge eating, with columns and black lampposts in the background.