What Dixon Place does

Dixon Place is a 501(c)(3) non-profit artistic incubator, legally organized as Open Channels New York, Inc. in New York, founded in 1985–1986 by Ellie Covan as a salon and converted over 23 years into a professional venue. From 2008 onward it has operated a state-of-the-art, bi-level theater at 161A Chrystie Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, presenting original works across theater, dance, music, puppetry, circus arts, literature, and visual art. The institution holds Bessie, Obie, BAXten, CUNY Edwin Booth, and NY Innovation Theater Foundation Stewardship awards, and counts Blue Man Group, John Leguizamo, Lisa Kron, and Taylor Mac among its alumni.

The organization runs a portfolio of curated programs including the annual HOT Festival (34th edition in 2026), the dance series 8 in Show and Fast Forward, the literary/performance series Experiments & Disorders, and StylePointe Nouvelle — a fashion-meets-dance showcase staged during New York Fashion Week. The facility combines a 120-seat flexible theater (max occupancy 150), a custom-built cocktail lounge with a full liquor license (seats ~40, max 94), and a 22'x15' mirrored rehearsal studio with sprung Marmoleum floor. Technical infrastructure comprises professional lighting, sound, and video packages, a grand piano, dressing rooms, and live-streaming capability. Ticketing is delivered through OvationTix and gift cards via OvationTix web.

Dixon Place's business model blends four revenue streams: per-ticket performance sales (typical prices $8–$70 across tiered seating, with community tickets at $10), bar and lounge beverage sales, a Subsidized Rental Program for self-producing artists and small arts and education organizations, and tax-deductible donations plus grants from foundations including the Jerome Foundation, Jim Henson Foundation, NYS Council on the Arts, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, and Foundation for Contemporary Arts. The organization employs between 11 and 50 staff, presents more than 1,000 creators annually, and is governed by an independent board with Ellie Covan as Founding Director and Benjamin Soencksen as Business & Finance Director.

Name

Dixon Place

Legal name

Open Channels New York, Inc.

Website

https://dixonplace.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dixon Place is a 501(c)(3) non-profit artistic incubator on Manhattan's Lower East Side that presents original theater, dance, music, puppetry, literature, and visual-art works through ticketed performances, a cocktail lounge, and a subsidized rental program serving independent artists, arts companies, and educational institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nightclub & Small Live Venue Operations (Clubs, Bars with Stages) (MPAGALAF)

Keywords

• Experimental performing arts
• Live performance venue
• Dance theater programming
• Artistic incubation services
• Queer arts festival

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue from ticket sales for theater performances, comedy shows, dance events, and festivals. Tickets are sold through Ovations ticketing platform.
2. Bar & Lounge Revenue: One of the few non-profit venues with a full liquor license. The cocktail lounge is open on performance nights, before and after shows, generating beverage sales that support artistic programs.
3. Space Rentals: Subsidized Rental Program serves self-producing artists, dance/theater companies, non-profits, and educational institutions needing affordable performance and rehearsal space. Also offers rehearsal studio and lounge rentals.
4. Donations & Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Accepts planned giving, in-kind donations, and volunteer support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dixon Place is a 501(c)(3) non-profit artistic incubator that presents original works of theater, dance, music, puppetry, circus arts, literature, and visual art at all stages of development. Operating from a state-of-the-art Lower East Side facility, it runs a portfolio of ticketed performance series and an annual festival, while also renting its theater, rehearsal studio, and cocktail lounge to independent artists, dance/theater companies, non-profits, and educational institutions through a subsidized rental program.

Product overview

Dixon Place is a non-profit artistic incubator presenting original works across multiple disciplines including theater, dance, music, puppetry, circus arts, literature, and visual art. The organization operates a portfolio of ongoing programs: the flagship HOT Festival (an annual queer arts festival celebrating its 34th edition in 2026), the dance series 8 in Show and Fast Forward (both curated by Sangeeta Yesley), Experiments & Disorders (literary/performance series), and StylePointe Nouvelle (fashion-meets-dance NYFW event). Venues include a 120-seat flexible theater with state-of-the-art technology and a cocktail lounge with full liquor license. The Subsidized Rental Program provides affordable access to these spaces for independent artists, dance/theater companies, and non-profit organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HOT Festival: The annual HOT Festival featuring queer performance, comedy, dance, theater, and visual art events. The 34th annual festival celebrating 40 years of Dixon Place.
• DP Cocktail Lounge
• 8 in Show
• Fast Forward
• StylePointe

Products and services

• HOT Festival An annual flagship queer arts festival showcasing theater, dance, comedy, and performance art by LGBTQIA+ artists, marking its 34th edition in 2026 and 40 years of Dixon Place.
• 8 in Show A dance series curated by Sangeeta Yesley featuring 8 dance companies per evening, showcasing new 5-12 minute pieces by early career and established choreographers in all dance forms.
• Fast Forward A dance series curated by Sangeeta Yesley providing opportunities for choreographers to workshop longer, developed pieces running 25-35 minutes, featuring 2 choreographers per evening on shared bills.
• Subsidized Rental Program An affordable full-service rental program serving independent artists, theater and dance companies, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions with access to the theater, studio, and cocktail lounge.
• Dixon Place Theater A bi-level flexible theater space with state-of-the-art technology accommodating up to 120 people (150 maximum occupancy), featuring full lighting/audio/video packages, a grand piano, sprung floor, dressing room, and studio space.
• DP Cocktail Lounge An intimate lounge with a full liquor license featuring recycled wood wainscotting, custom stained-glass artwork, and a custom-designed bar, serving beverages during performances and hosting private events.
• StylePointe Nouvelle A collaboration between fashion and dance during New York Fashion Week, pairing emerging and established fashion designers with choreographers to showcase collections through dance vignettes.
• Experiments & Disorders A curated literary and performance series featuring fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and experimental texts by adventurous established and emerging writers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1000 creators presented annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• G.L.I.T.S.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrooklyn's preeminent non-profit for transgender individuals. Dixon Place hosts events benefiting G.L.I.T.S., including the Teacups variety show with proceeds/support going to the organization.
• Creative PerformancescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSangeeta Yesley founded Creative Performances and serves as curator for multiple Dixon Place dance programs including Fast Forward, 8 in Show, HOT Dance, and Dance Bloc NYC Festival. She is a former board member of Dixon Place.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Kitchen: Chelsea-based nonprofit presenting experimental performance, dance, and visual art since 1971. Strong overlap with Dixon's incubator identity and multi-disciplinary programming.
• La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club: Long-running NYC nonprofit experimental theater presenting original works across disciplines. Matches Dixon Place on mission (artistic incubator), nonprofit status, East Village/NYC footprint, and capacity scale.
• HERE Arts Center: SoHo-based nonprofit performing arts center producing hybrid theater, dance, music, and visual art. Comparable on presenting model, nonprofit status, multi-discipline programming, and small-theater scale.
• New York Theatre Workshop: Off-Broadway nonprofit producing experimental and new work in NYC. Comparable mission and audience, though larger in scale and operating budget than Dixon Place.
• Target Margin Theater: Brooklyn-based experimental nonprofit producing and presenting original theater. Comparable on small-team, indie theater model with subsidized space access.
• Performance Space New York: East Village nonprofit presenting experimental performance art. Comparable on NYC geography, nonprofit status, and curatorial mission for emerging and experimental artists.
• The Chocolate Factory Theater: Long Island City nonprofit supporting independent theater artists. Comparable on NYC regional presenting model, nonprofit structure, and capacity scale.
• Soho Rep: NYC nonprofit producing new work by experimental theater makers. Comparable as a small-capacity presenting venue with subscription/ticket revenue plus institutional funding.
• The Bushwick Starr: Brooklyn-based nonprofit presenting new work by emerging artists. Comparable on small-scale indie presenting model and artistic incubator positioning.
• Mabou Mines: NYC experimental theater company developing new work and resident artist programming. Comparable on multi-decade history and commitment to experimental theater makers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/dixonplace
• Instagraminstagram.com/dixonplace

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dixon Place