The Cherry Arts

What The Cherry Arts does

The Cherry Arts is a nonprofit, multi-arts hub based in Ithaca, New York, operating a three-venue complex — the 200-seat Cherry Performance Space, the Cherry Gallery for visual art, and the 50-seat Camilla Schade Studio — and producing theater, dance, music, circus, puppetry, and visual arts programming under a 'radically local | radically global' curatorial philosophy. Founded in 2014 by Samuel Buggeln (founding Artistic and Executive Director), the organization has built a 10+ year track record of English-language premieres of international contemporary plays whose rights and translations have been published by Bloomsbury (Methuen Drama), Oberon Books, and Seagull Books, with touring productions reaching NYC, LA, Toronto, and London's National Theatre.

The company monetizes across six distinct revenue streams: ticket sales (priced $10-$50 per ticket, processed via Ovations), annual memberships at $75+, tiered corporate sponsorships ranging from $200 advertising placements to $14,000 season-producer packages, venue rentals for private events, publications and bookstore sales, and tax-deductible donations plus institutional grants. Grant funding comes from a concentrated foundation stack including the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), Mellon Foundation (Just Futures Initiative), Park Foundation, and Tompkins County Community Foundation; NYSCA specifically underwrites a free rehearsal space program that serves dozens of local artists and companies annually. Distribution is hybrid — physical box office, e-commerce ticketing, publisher retail, and direct donor outreach — supported by community-led go-to-market rooted in partnerships with Cornell University, Ithaca College, Ithaca Print Commons, Arthaus Ithaca, LilyPad Puppet Theater, Circus Culture, Saltonstall Foundation, and Eurodram.

Technology scope is intentionally narrow: a venue/performance-space management stack, a website CMS with events calendar and email newsletter, and standard ticketing through Ovations. The Cherry Music initiative, launched in 2024, is the most recent product expansion and responds to closures of other Ithaca music venues by offering music programming plus free rehearsal space for musicians. There are no proprietary software products, no APIs or developer-facing integrations, and no AI/ML components in the current stack. Specific financial figures — ticket volume, sponsorship yield, grant size, or total annual revenue — are not publicly disclosed.

Name

The Cherry Arts

Legal name

The Cherry Arts, Inc.

Website

https://thecherry.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Cherry Arts is an Ithaca, New York nonprofit multi-arts hub founded in 2014 that operates a 200-seat theater, gallery, and 50-seat studio to produce international contemporary plays, music, dance, circus, puppetry, and visual arts for local audiences, artists, and touring markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Theater, Musicals & Performing Arts (THAJAFAB)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Theater productions
• Visual arts exhibitions
• Live performance spaces
• Community arts programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Ithaca

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticket sales for performances and events at the Cherry Performance Space and other venues. Ticketing handled through Ovations platform with advance and door sales.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership at $75 or more provides exclusive benefits including free beverage at concession stand, reserved seats, free ticket exchanges, exclusive events with artists, and newsletter access. Members listed in production programs.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Business partnerships including advertising in production programs, digital sponsorship boards, production/exhibition sponsorships, and season sponsorships ranging from $200 to $14,000 annually.
4. Space Rentals: Rental of Cherry spaces for private events and arts uses, including the Cherry Artspace for festive occasions or business events.
5. Publications and Bookstore: Sale of published plays including books by Bloomsbury Publishing featuring Cherry premieres, plays by Samuel Buggeln, and co-edited/co-translated works. Also includes The Mercurian special issue.
6. Donations and Grants: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and institutional grants from organizations like New York State Council on the Arts, Mellon Foundation, Park Foundation, and others support operations and free programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Cherry Arts is a nonprofit multi-arts hub that produces and presents theater, dance, circus, puppetry, music performances, and visual arts exhibitions across three venues in Ithaca, NY. It also operates an annual membership/donor program, publishes plays through major academic presses, and rents its spaces for private and corporate events.

Product overview

The Cherry Arts is a multi-arts hub in Ithaca, New York, offering a portfolio of venue spaces and programs. The core venues include the 200-person Cherry Performance Space for mainstage productions, the Cherry Gallery for visual art exhibitions, and the 50-person Camilla Schade Studio for rehearsals and intimate performances. Related programs include Cherry Music for music programming with free rehearsal space, the Art Hive community art program, and Cherry Collective Productions presenting theater, dance, circus, and puppetry. The organization also operates a Bookstore for published plays and offers a Membership program with exclusive benefits. Space rentals are available for private events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cherry Music: An initiative bringing music programming to the Cherry's venues including the 200-person Cherry Performance Space, 50-person Camilla Schade Studio, and Cherry Gallery, responding to closures of Ithaca music venues.

Products and services

• Cherry Performance Space A 200-seat venue used for theater productions, music performances, dance, circus, puppetry, and special events. Available to producing artists and for private rental.
• Cherry Gallery A visual art gallery hosting rotating exhibitions, installations, and community art displays for regional artists, Ithaca Arthaus residents, and community members.
• Camilla Schade Studio A 50-seat studio space used for rehearsals, intimate performances, and community arts programming.
• Cherry Music Music programming initiative bringing performances to Cherry venues, including free rehearsal space for local musicians.
• Cherry Collective Productions Annual theater season of plays, dance, circus, puppetry, music, and family programming produced by The Cherry, including English-language premieres of international contemporary plays.
• Space Rentals Rental of Cherry Performance Space, Camilla Schade Studio, and Cherry Gallery for private events, corporate functions, parties, and community gatherings.
• Cherry Bookstore / Publications Sale of published plays including the Bloomsbury/Methuen Drama collection 'Global Theatre from the Cherry Collective' (six international plays), works by Samuel Buggeln, and co-edited/co-translated titles; also The Mercurian special issue.
• Cherry Arts Membership Annual donor membership at $75+ providing exclusive benefits including a free beverage at the concession stand for Cherry Collective productions, reserved seats, free ticket exchanges, exclusive artist events, members-only newsletter content, and listing in production programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Plays published and toured internationally
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• LilyPad Puppet TheatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaborative partnership with LilyPad Puppet Theater, a company that fills Cherry spaces with family audiences. The Cherry has hosted multiple LilyPad productions including The West End Diorama installation.
• Circus CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Circus Culture, another company that fills Cherry spaces with family audiences. The Cherry has presented works developed at Circus Culture's Hupstate Circus Festival.
• Cornell Council for the Arts (CCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Cornell Council for the Arts on corollary exhibition 'Local Futurities' to the 2022 Cornell Biennial. Cherry selected artists from regional call for submissions.
• Ithaca CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with Ithaca College for student involvement, faculty collaborations, and theater/dance programming including faculty performances and student opportunities.
• Cornell UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership with Cornell University including faculty involvement in productions, student opportunities, and collaboration on exhibitions through Cornell Migration Initiative and Office of Vice Provost for International Affairs.
• Methuen Drama (Bloomsbury Publishing)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMethuen Drama in London published 'Global Theatre from the Cherry Collective' featuring six international plays premiered by the Cherry. Major recognition of Cherry's 10-year body of work.
• History Center in Tompkins CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presentation of exhibitions and events including Genderqueer Pioneers: The Lavender Hill Legacy and A Watch on the Rhine documentary screenings.
• Arthaus IthacacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Ithaca Arthaus for annual Residents and Allies Exhibition at Cherry Gallery. Collaborates with Arthaus residents and Cherry Art Hive community members.
• Ithaca Print CommonscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership with Ithaca Print Commons for annual 'Open Season' exhibition at Cherry Gallery, celebrating printmaking and community arts.
• Saltonstall Foundation for the ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Saltonstall Foundation for annual exhibition of works by Saltonstall residency artists. Cherry has presented multiple years of Saltonstall exhibitions.
• EurodramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Network for theatre translation where Samuel Buggeln chairs the English Language Committee. Cherry Artistic Director leads Cherry's international translation work.
• Ithaca GeneratorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local makerspace for 'Generating Joy' exhibition showcasing works from Ithaca Generator community.
• Bees Knees Burlesque AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with burlesque academy for Fingerlakes Follies variety performances at Cherry Artspace.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Signature Theatre: Off-Broadway theater producing new work and revivals with a residency model for playwrights. Comparable as a contemporary theater presenter with an artist-development orientation.
• Playwrights Horizons: Established off-Broadway theater company producing new American plays. Comparable as a presenter of contemporary work, though significantly larger and more established than Cherry.

Regional players

• The Yard: Performing arts presenter on Martha's Vineyard presenting dance, theater, and music. Comparable as a small-community nonprofit presenter with curated international programming.

Direct peers

• The Kitchen: Nonprofit interdisciplinary arts space presenting performance, dance, music, and visual art. Comparable to Cherry's multi-discipline programming philosophy and single-venue-presenter model.
• New York Theatre Workshop: Off-Broadway nonprofit theater company known for developing and producing new plays, including international work. Comparable to Cherry as a presenter of contemporary and international theater with an artistic-director-driven model.
• HERE Arts Center: Interdisciplinary nonprofit arts venue producing theater, dance, music, puppetry, and visual art. Closely comparable to Cherry's multi-discipline, multi-venue programming approach in a single physical footprint.
• La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club: Legendary nonprofit experimental theater venue presenting international and culturally diverse work. Comparable to Cherry as a presenter prioritizing global voices and experimental performance forms.
• New/Ohio Theatre: Independent off-off-Broadway theater in NYC producing new and international work. Samuel Buggeln was a long-time Artistic Associate there; comparable as an indie presenter championing emerging and international playwrights.
• SITI Company: Theater company known for cross-cultural and international work, including workshops and new play development. Comparable as a contemporary theater company with an international curatorial focus.
• PS21: Performing arts presenter in a small upstate New York town, operating a venue complex with diverse programming. Comparable as a regional presenter bringing international and contemporary work to a non-metro audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cherryartspace
• Facebookfacebook.com/thecherryarts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-cherry-arts

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 The Cherry Arts