Performance Space New York

What Performance Space New York does

Performance Space New York is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization founded in 1980 in New York City's East Village, formerly known as Performance Space 122 and rebranded in 2023 alongside its Strategic Plan 2023-2026. It presents interdisciplinary contemporary performance at its ADA-compliant venue at 150 First Avenue, dissolving borders between performance art, dance, theater, music, visual art, poetry, ritual, nightlife, food, film, and technology. The organization operates a year-round programmatic portfolio including the 2025/2026 Season, Summer 2026, the COIL Festival, RAMP residency for emerging NYC artists, recurring series such as First Mondays, Open Movement, We The Youth (backed by the Keith Haring Foundation), the year-long Forge Project installation, Community Partnerships, and the Art Workers Are Artists Too program. The technology stack is intentionally minimal: an owned website at performancespacenewyork.org, a newsletter, organic social channels (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter), and the third-party OvationTix platform for ticketing and donations; no proprietary platform, mobile app, or AI/ML systems are described.

Revenue is generated across four streams: transaction-based ticket sales (with some free RSVP programming such as Open Movement and WIP showcases), recurring donations and fundraising (cash, IRA gifts, stock, donor-advised funds, planned giving — a core 501(c)(3) revenue pillar given the gift page prominence), modest merchandise sales (apparel, prints, puzzles, "Name a Chair"), and episodic space rentals handled by the Deputy Director. Donor and government grant dependence is implicit in the nonprofit structure, though no specific grant totals are disclosed. The go-to-market is community-led: programming is driven by curators, guest-curated series, and community councils; audience acquisition relies on community partnerships, word-of-mouth, the venue's East Village location, and direct digital channels. Customer segments span interdisciplinary artists (primary), the general public, art workers and technicians, children and families, and LGBTQ+ and radical communities historically served by the organization since its founding.

Name

Performance Space New York

Legal name

Performance Space New York

Website

https://performancespacenewyork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Performance Space New York is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1980 that presents interdisciplinary contemporary performance — including dance, theater, music, and visual art — at its ADA-compliant East Village venue, serving artists, general audiences, art workers, and youth through seasons, residencies, festivals, and community partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Performing Arts Companies (7111), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Other Performing Arts Companies (71119)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE)

Keywords

• Contemporary performance venue
• Interdisciplinary performing arts
• Live performance presentation
• Artist residency programs
• Performing arts nonprofit

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, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from ticket sales for performances and events at the venue, with box office opening one hour before each show.
2. Donations and Fundraising: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Performance Space New York relies heavily on charitable donations from individuals, with multiple giving options including cash donations, IRA gifts, stock donations, donor advised funds, and planned giving. Tax ID: 13-3522283.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sales of branded merchandise including apparel, prints, puzzles, and other items through their online shop.
4. Space Rentals: The venue is available for rental to other organizations and groups, generating rental income from external bookings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Performance Space New York is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization that presents contemporary interdisciplinary performance works — spanning dance, theater, music, visual art, poetry, ritual, nightlife, film, and technology — at its East Village venue in New York City. The organization supports emerging and established artists through residencies (RAMP), curated series (First Mondays, Forge Project, Open Movement, We The Youth), seasonal programming, and community partnerships. It generates revenue through ticket sales, donations, merchandise, and venue space rentals.

Product overview

Performance Space New York is a nonprofit performing arts organization (501(c)(3)) founded in 1980, formerly known as Performance Space 122. It operates as a presenting organization offering multiple interconnected programs: mainstage performances and seasons (2025/2026 Season, Summer 2026), recurring series (First Mondays, Forge Project, Open Movement, We The Youth lectures, Community Partnerships), and artist development programs (RAMP residency). The organization hosts performances across disciplines including dance, theater, music, visual art, poetry, film, and technology at its East Village venue at 150 First Avenue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 2025/2026 Season of Performances Seasonal program of contemporary interdisciplinary performance works presented at the East Village venue, featuring new works and debuts from artists examining the city through the lens of diaspora, community, and memory. Tickets sold per-event through OvationTix.
• Summer 2026 Programming Seasonal summer program at Performance Space New York featuring invited artists, resource-sharing events, works-in-progress showcases (WIP Feedback Front), and teach-ins supporting interdisciplinary artists.
• COIL Festival Annual winter performance festival showcasing contemporary performance from local, national, and global artists, presented at the East Village venue.
• First Mondays Reading Series Recurring reading series for writers to share works-in-progress and processes with the community before publication or performance.
• Forge Project Residency and Installation Year-long residency and installation in Performance Space New York's Open Room community space, in partnership with Forge Project, centering Indigenous place-based knowledges, creative practice, and critical engagement through public reading lists, video works, workshops, and performance.
• We The Youth – Keith Haring Lecture Series Children's lecture series inviting children and their families to meet luminaries discussing ideas and social issues often left off school curricula, hosted by Kia LaBeija and supported by The Keith Haring Foundation. Free admission for attendees under 18 and accompanying adults.
• Open Movement Free weekly Sunday community program offering self-guided movement practice and artist-led workshops, curated by Monica Mirabile, open to all ages, abilities, and levels of experience.
• RAMP Artist Residency Program Annual residency program for NYC-based emerging artists offering time, space, and resources to create ambitious new work across genres and perspectives, with some residency showings at Henry Street Settlement's Abrons Arts Center.
• Venue Space Rentals Rental of Performance Space New York's ADA-compliant performance venues and spaces to external organizations, groups, and producers for their own events. Inquiries handled via [email protected].
• Online Merchandise Shop Online storefront selling branded merchandise including apparel (shirts, hats), prints, puzzles, and the Name a Chair program, supporting the nonprofit's fundraising.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Keith Haring FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Keith Haring Foundation supports the 'We The Youth – Keith Haring Lecture Series' which invites children and their friends and families to meet luminaries who talk about ideas and social issues often left off school curriculums. The series is held in honor of Keith Haring who collaborated with children throughout his life and believed in art's ability to create a more accepting society.
• Forge ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForge Project is a year-long residency and installation in Performance Space New York's Open Room community space, centering Indigenous place-based knowledges, creative practice, and critical engagement through reading lists, video works, workshops, performance and discussion-based activations open to the public, as well as closed door convenings facilitated by and for Native people.
• Kia LaBeijaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerArtist and Ballroom icon who hosts and organizes the We The Youth Keith Haring Lecture Series, exploring how art, text, and images can be used to start movements and inspire action.
• Monica MirabilecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCurator and organizer of Open Movement, a free program open to all ages, abilities, and levels of experience that offers space for self-guided movement practice and artist-led workshops, taking place every Sunday at Performance Space New York.
• Henry Street Settlement/Abrons Arts CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the RAMP residency program, with some residency showings taking place at Henry Street Settlement's Abrons Arts Center.
• Community Partnerships (THE FIT, Queer Noir, First Nations Performing Arts, Dweller)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVarious community partnerships across the year responding to the wants and needs of artists, art workers, organizers, activists, audience members, staff, and others in the immediate community.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/performspaceny
• Facebookfacebook.com/performancespacenewyork
• Instagraminstagram.com/performance.space.new.york

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Performance Space New York