At the same time, maintaining a small staff that worked closely with the participating artists minimized the bureaucracy that so often beset larger institutions and permitted the exploration of provocative projects.
In the summer of 1991, it moved to its last physical location at 594 Broadway in SoHo, at that time the heart of New York's cultural scene.
Through its integrated programs, The Alternative Museum developed a history and a catalogue archive of 25 years of issue-oriented art presentations.
Equally important were The Alternative Museum's solo exhibitions, which included many of today's most outstanding artists, including Luis Cruz Azaceta, Ching Ho Cheng, Komar and Melamid, Maureen Connor, Ben Sakoguchi, Luis Jimenez, Houston Conwill, Adrian Piper, Dennis Adams, Robert Blackburn (artist) and Tseng Kwong Chi.
Other artists, such as Hannah Wilke, David Hammonds, Alfredo Jaar, Leon Golub, Andres Serrano, Tim Rollins K.O.S., X Prez, and Group Material, were all exhibited at crucial moments in their careers.
For the first time, New York City had an ongoing venue where music from all over the world was presented in an informal environment that seated a maximum audience of 150 people.
Traditional, folk, and modern music from India, Gambia, China, Peru, Ireland, the U.S., and many other countries found its way to American audiences.
Composers and musicians who performed at The Alternative Museum include: Don Cherry, Joseph Jarman, Leroy Jenkins, The Kronos Quartet, Carman Moore, Bob Moran, Hamlet Bluiett, Joan La Barbara, Frank London, Horace Tapscott, Terry Riley, Richard Teitelbaum, John Zorn, Henry Threadgill, Glen Velez And Reggie Workman.