New Era Creative Space

What New Era Creative Space does

New Era Creative Space (NECS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth arts education organization founded in 2013 by Ridvan Idara in Peekskill, New York. Originally established as a theater company to address a lack of local arts opportunities for youth, NECS has grown into a comprehensive creative education provider delivering theater, visual arts, digital media, STEAM, leadership, wellness, and cultural immersion programming for children, teenagers, and adults in Peekskill and surrounding Westchester County communities. The organization's core offering is the NECS Creative Academy after-school program (Kindergarten through 5th grade, priced $50-$585 annually), supplemented by middle and high school programming, a six-week Nature Connection Summer Camp, the Film Futures paid summer internship and NECS Media Lab, therapeutic theater at Children's Village, leadership and empowerment clubs, and international service-learning trips to destinations including The Gambia, Hawaii, Rwanda, and the Pine Ridge Reservation. In 2025 the organization reports 87 programs delivered to 569 children and youth, with $341K in subsidies, discounts, and scholarships provided to ensure financial accessibility.

NECS operates from a permanent creative hub at 203 Esther Street in downtown Peekskill (opened 2024), complemented by distributed delivery through Peekskill City School District sites (Oakside Elementary, Hillcrest, Peekskill Middle School), the Peekskill Housing Authority's Dunbar Heights, partner venues including St. Peter's Episcopal Church and Hudson Valley MOCA, and outdoor locations such as 2nd Nature Skate Park and Mariandale Center. Revenue is diversified across individual donations, program fees, foundation grants (ArtsWestchester, Mona Foundation, Wayfarer Foundation), state and county arts funding (NYS Council on the Arts, Westchester County), and corporate sponsorship (Sony). Enrollment is handled through the Enrollsy self-serve platform on necspace.org, and the organization pursues community-led go-to-market via school district referrals, housing authority channels, churches, and word-of-mouth in the Peekskill community.

The organization has earned regional recognition including the ArtsWestchester Advancing Equity Award (2024), Hudson Valley Chamber of Commerce Quality of Life Award (2024), Non-Profit Westchester Small Non-Profit Changemaker Award (2024), and Candid (formerly GuideStar) Gold Standard for Transparency (2024). Leadership comprises Founder and Executive Director Ridvan Idara, supported by a Program Director, People and Culture Manager, Program Manager, Artist-in-Residence, Digital Marketing Consultant, and Administrative Assistant. There is no technology platform underpinning the core offering, and the organization's value proposition rests on in-person creative instruction, community partnership depth, and 18 consecutive years of theater production rather than on proprietary software or AI-driven delivery.

Name

New Era Creative Space

Legal name

New Era Creative Space, Inc.

Website

https://necspace.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

New Era Creative Space is a Peekskill, New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering in-person theater, visual arts, digital media, STEAM, leadership, and cultural immersion programming to children, teens, and adults across Westchester County, serving 569 youth across 87 programs in 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG), Visual Arts Instruction (Drawing, Painting, Sculpture) (EDAMAAAA), Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ)

Keywords

• Youth arts education
• Youth development programs
• Arts education services
• Theater workshops
• Digital arts training

Headquarters

HQ city

Peekskill

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. Donations and Charitable Contributions: NECS operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID 82-4819356) that relies heavily on donations from individuals, community members, and supporters. The organization runs annual benefit events to raise funds and encourages monthly sustaining donors.
2. Program Fees: Revenue generated from program enrollment fees such as the Creative Academy after-school program, priced at $50-$585 per year.
3. Corporate and Foundation Grants: Support from corporate sponsors like Sony and foundation grants from organizations such as ArtsWestchester, Mona Foundation, and Wayfarer Foundation.
4. Sponsorship Revenue: Corporate sponsorships from partners including Westchester County, NYS Council on the Arts, and local businesses during events and annual benefits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

New Era Creative Space (NECS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth arts education organization that delivers theater, digital art, mixed media, and leadership/character development programs to children, youth, and families in Peekskill, NY. The organization offers hands-on arts instruction combined with social-emotional learning and leadership training as part of its programming mix.

Product overview

New Era Creative Space is a non-profit 501(c)(3) youth arts education organization offering a diverse portfolio of creative programs for children, youth, and adults in Peekskill, NY and surrounding communities. The organization operates its flagship NECS Creative Academy after-school program alongside a comprehensive suite of offerings including theater productions (now expanded to three annual shows), visual arts classes, digital media arts, STEAM programs, leadership and empowerment clubs, summer Nature Connection Camp, cultural immersion travel programs, wellness classes, film workforce training through NECS Media Lab, therapeutic theater at Children's Village, and community events. The organization serves over 500 children and youth annually through 87+ programs, providing subsidies and scholarships totaling $341K to ensure financial accessibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Theater Program
• Digital Art Program
• Mixed Media Program
• Leadership and Character Building Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 569 children and youth participated in programs in 2025 with 87 programs offered
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core, emerging and minor.

• Peekskill City School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership providing after-school creative programs at multiple elementary and middle schools including Oakside Elementary, Hillcrest, and Peekskill Middle School. The district provides bus transportation for students to attend NECS Creative Academy.
• Children's VillagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird-year partnership providing therapeutic theater programs for vulnerable children at the Children's Village facility, focused on restorative theater games and social-emotional development.
• St. Peter's Episcopal ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner hosting NECS yoga and nutrition classes for adults, providing space for wellness programming in the heart of Peekskill.
• New York-Presbyterian HospitalemergingStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive Director visited NECS and pledged future partnership and support for NECS programs.
• Cornell Cooperative Extension (SNAP-Ed New York)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNutrition education programming led by Josephine Quiocho, providing nutrition sessions at NECS adult wellness programs.
• Starfish InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for cultural immersion programs to The Gambia, including the EmpowerED trip and Healthy Masculinity workshops facilitated by Executive Director Ridvan Idara.
• Something Good in the WorldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Hawaii service-learning journey, exploring Hawaiian culture, history, and ecology while engaging in environmental preservation projects.
• Hawai'i Wildlife FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization partnered with NECS for beach cleanup projects in Hawaii as part of the service-learning program.
• The Kohala CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with NECS for coral restoration and preservation education as part of the Hawaii service-learning program.
• Three Mountain AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental organization for native tree planting (75 trees planted) as part of ecosystem protection service projects.
• Keaton's KidscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for skateboarding programs, taking Dunbar Heights students twice weekly to 2nd Nature Skate Park for instruction.
• 2nd Nature Skate ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for NECS skateboarding program serving youth from Dunbar Heights.
• Layli Muro ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting firm led professional development workshop on conflict resolution and fostering an inclusive culture.
• Arc WestchesteremergingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew partnership announced to provide programs for Arc Westchester clients at the NECS center.
• NAACP Youth CouncilemergingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for NAACP Youth Council to use NECS space for monthly meetings.
• Good for You ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Jeffrey Cobelli, providing professional mentorship for the Film Futures workforce program and summer video production internship.
• Hudson Valley H2OcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Nature Connection Summer Camp, providing water activities including paddle boarding and kayaking instruction.
• Mariandale CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Girl's Leadership and Empowerment Club overnight retreat in Ossining.
• Hudson Valley MOCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner venue for monthly spoken word workshops and performances, and theater productions (Studio Theatre in Exile).
• Peekskill Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProviding three days per week of after-school programs at Dunbar Heights, including dinner for participants.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• DreamYard Project: Bronx-based nonprofit offering arts education, theater, and creative workforce development programs for K-12 youth. Comparable in mission, youth arts focus, and reliance on community/school partnerships, though operating in a different urban geography.
• Pregones Theater / Pregones/RTT: Bronx-rooted Latino theater company running youth arts education, performance, and community programs. Comparable as a community-anchored theater nonprofit producing original work while running youth education programming.
• New Victory Theater: NYC's theater devoted to performing arts for kids and families, with strong education and community engagement programming. Directly comparable in combining youth theater production with in-depth educational programming for young audiences.
• Urban Arts: NYC nonprofit providing arts education, mentoring, and college/career readiness to underserved youth. Comparable youth-arts-education nonprofit model with scholarship/financial-access emphasis similar to NECS's subsidy approach.
• Community Word Project: NYC nonprofit combining arts education (poetry, visual art, theater) with youth leadership in underserved communities. Comparable mission-driven model targeting K-12 youth through school and community partnerships.
• Brooklyn Arts Council: Community-based nonprofit supporting and producing arts programming across Brooklyn, including youth arts education initiatives. Comparable community-anchored nonprofit model focused on expanding arts access in a specific regional geography.
• Marquis Studios: NYC-based nonprofit arts education organization providing in-school and community-based arts residencies across disciplines. Directly comparable in delivering arts programming through school district and community organization partnerships.
• Young Audiences of New York: Long-standing nonprofit providing in-school and after-school arts education programs for NYC youth across dance, music, theater, and visual arts. Directly comparable mission and school-district partnership model to NECS, operating at a larger urban scale.

Regional players

• Mid-Hudson Children's Museum: Hudson Valley-based children's education and cultural institution offering hands-on programs for kids and families. Comparable in providing children's educational programming in the same Hudson Valley/Westchester region as NECS, though with a museum rather than arts-education focus.
• Hudson Valley MOCA: Peekskill-based contemporary art museum that hosts spoken word, theater, and youth programs in partnership with NECS. Comparable regional arts/cultural institution serving the same Peekskill community, with overlap in youth programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8C2tE9G6nDVWRXfDlL0Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/necspace
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/new-era-creative-space
• Instagraminstagram.com/neweracreativespace
• Xx.com/necspace

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 New Era Creative Space