Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC)

What Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) does

Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) is a nonprofit performing arts organization located at the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan (6 WTC, 251 Fulton Street, New York). The center opened on September 19, 2023 as the cultural keystone of the World Trade Center, completing a roughly 20-year planned civic project. Its physical core is a set of flexible, reconfigurable performance spaces designed by David Rockwell, capable of hosting theater, dance, music, opera, and multi-disciplinary productions across multiple formats. Programming spans ticketed productions (e.g., Giulia: The Poison Queen of Palermo, The Unsinkable, The Gorgeous Nothings, A Christmas Carol), an opera showcase (VOX), dance events (Motion/Matter All-Styles Dance Battle, At the Altar), community and family programming (Family Day, Creativity Days), free weekly lobby performances (Free Music at PAC NYC), and large-scale commemorative concerts (New York Philharmonic and Soldiers' Chorus, Come From Away in Concert). Multi-year artistic initiatives include The Democracy Cycle (launched January 2024 with Galvan Initiatives) and Civic Alliances community programming.

PAC NYC monetizes its programming through a diversified nonprofit revenue model combining earned and contributed income. Earned streams include single-ticket sales (with Pay-What-You-Wish options on select events), annual memberships at three published tiers ($50 Groundbreaker, $100 Trailblazer, $500 Adventurer) plus a higher Patron Program, group sales for organizations of 10+ through a dedicated channel, and on-site F&B via Metropolis by Marcus Samuelsson (lunch, dinner, private events). Contributed revenue includes individual donations, corporate memberships, gala fundraising (annual Icons of Culture Gala, honoring Diane von Furstenberg in 2025 and Bob Iger in 2026), and a Patron Program; flagship philanthropic support comes from Ronald O. Perelman (named benefactor), Michael Bloomberg / Bloomberg Philanthropies (Bloomberg Plaza), and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. Distribution is primarily direct: pacnyc.org, phone and in-person box office, group sales line, and reservations. The center also operates a Rentals channel and the Bloomberg Connects mobile app.

Name

Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC)

Legal name

Perelman Performing Arts Center

Website

https://pacnyc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) is a nonprofit performing arts center at the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan, operating flexible, multi-format performance spaces to present theater, dance, music, opera, and family programming for the New York City public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Center / Live Entertainment Venue

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Live performing arts
• Theatrical productions
• Performing arts center
• Ticketed concerts
• Dance and opera programming

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from single-ticket purchases for performances across theater, dance, music, opera, and special events. Tickets range from free to various price points with member pre-sales and group discounts available.
2. Membership Programs: Annual memberships at multiple tiers ($50-$500) providing early access to tickets, waived fees, acknowledgements, and restaurant discounts.
3. Restaurant Operations: Metropolis by Marcus Samuelsson, an on-site restaurant and bar operated in partnership, generating F&B revenue from lunch, dinner, and private events.
4. Donations and Philanthropy: Individual donations, corporate memberships, gala events (Icons of Culture Gala), and patronage programs supporting the organization's mission.
5. Group Sales: Revenue from group bookings of 10+ attendees, with dedicated group sales inquiry and ticketing process.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PAC NYC operates a nonprofit performing arts center at the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan, presenting ticketed theater, dance, music, and opera productions across flexible, reconfigurable performance spaces. Programming is complemented by free lobby music, family programming, an on-site restaurant (Metropolis by Marcus Samuelsson), and tiered annual memberships that provide early ticket access and exclusive benefits.

Product overview

Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) is a dynamic cultural organization offering a diverse portfolio of performing arts programming across multiple venues at the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan. The center provides ticketed theatrical productions and musicals (Giulia, The Unsinkable, The Gorgeous Nothings, A Christmas Carol), opera and music showcases (VOX, Free Music at PAC NYC/Lobby Stage series), dance events (Motion/Matter Dance Battle, At the Altar), community programming (Family Day, Creativity Days), and large-scale concert events (NY Philharmonic, Come From Away). Additional offerings include on-site dining (Metropolis by Marcus Samuelsson restaurant), a mobile app (Bloomberg Connects), annual galas (Icons of Culture), and membership programs. The venue operates flexible performance spaces and hosts artistic initiatives like The Democracy Cycle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Metropolis by Marcus Samuelsson: Restaurant located in the PAC NYC lobby featuring cuisine by celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson

Products and services

• A Christmas Carol The Old Vic's acclaimed Tony Award-winning production of Dickens' classic, adapted by Jack Thorne and directed by Matthew Warchus. An immersive theatrical experience with music and holiday carols, presented for general audiences.
• Giulia: The Poison Queen of Palermo World premiere musical written by and featuring Grammy Award winner Jennifer Nettles, directed by Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman, telling the story of a 17th-century Palermo woman who created a secret sisterhood.
• The Unsinkable World premiere theatrical odyssey by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, directed by Aya Ogawa, inspired by the six Chinese seamen who survived the Titanic, featuring puppetry, cross-Atlantic dance, and Chinese opera.
• The Gorgeous Nothings World premiere musical by Travis Lee Russ uncovering the story of the 'Fag Ward' at Men's Penitentiary on Welfare Island in the 1930s, with a score drawn from the Great American Songbook.
• VOX Showcase of works-in-progress from emerging and established opera artists, featuring 20-30 minute excerpts performed with full orchestra and chorus.
• Motion/Matter: All-Styles Dance Battle Tournament-style dance competition featuring top-tier dancers from NYC's street and club scenes competing in locking, popping, breaking, and other styles, with all-star judges and cash prizes.
• Family Day Free annual event featuring indoor and outdoor workshops, performances, interactive creation stations, dance, live music, and activities celebrating diverse NYC stories and cultures.
• Creativity Days Family-friendly art making and activities program held during summer months, offering hands-on creative experiences for children and families.
• Free Music at PAC NYC / Lobby Stage Weekly free music performances in the PAC NYC lobby featuring diverse artists across genres including jazz, electronic, and world music.
• Metropolis by Marcus Samuelsson On-site restaurant operated by celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, offering lunch and dinner service at the PAC NYC venue.
• Membership Program Year-long membership tiers (Groundbreaker $50, Trailblazer $100, Adventurer $500) offering early ticket access, waived service and facility fees, website acknowledgement, beverage discounts at Metropolis, and invitations to member happy hours.
• Icons of Culture Gala Annual fundraising gala honoring individuals for extraordinary contributions to PAC NYC and philanthropy, featuring the Icon of Impact award program.
• The Democracy Cycle Multi-year artistic initiative exploring civic engagement and democratic participation through commissioned works, partnerships, and community programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rapid establishment as a cultural destination in Lower Manhattan since September 2023 opening

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Civic Alliances PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 September 2023Partnerships announced September 2023 to broaden and deepen service to communities of New York, part of PAC NYC's civic engagement mission
• Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and Vanity FairminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 August 2023三方 partnership for 'Conversations' series bringing together artists and cultural figures
• Ma-Yi Theater CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for The Unsinkable world premiere; Ma-Yi Theater Company provided special thanks for collaboration on the production
• Civis FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-commissioning partner with PAC NYC for The Democracy Cycle festival, supporting world premiere dance commissions
• ADF/American Dance FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-commissioned At the Altar with support from Doris Duke/SHS Foundations Award for New Works
• Van Cleef & ArpelsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels supports Lower Manhattan Cultural Council residency for At the Altar artists
• Life Jacket Theatre CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducer of The Gorgeous Nothings world premiere musical
• Making Gay HistoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive Director Eric Marcus collaborated on The Gorgeous Nothings production
• Baryshnikov Arts CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtistic Director Mikhail Baryshnikov collaborated on The Gorgeous Nothings production
• The Plimpton FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported Timothy Long's North American Indigenous Songbook commissioning and performance program
• Beth Morrison ProjectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProducing and directing VOX opera showcase; nearly two decades producing new opera-theater with 60+ projects worldwide
• American Composers OrchestracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVOX partner; national institution cultivating and developing careers of living composers since 1977
• Manhattan School of MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVOX partner; enrolls nearly 1,030 students in undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs
• Mannes School of MusiccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVOX partner; established as new work incubator under Managing Artistic Director Emma Griffin
• MasterVoicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVOX partner; founded 1941 by Robert Shaw, creates engaged culture around choral concert music
• The Metropolitan OperacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVOX partner; Lindemann Young Artist Development Program provides training for opera artists
• Trinity Church NYCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of GiANT STEPS: America at 250 jazz series with PAC NYC and JAZZ HOUSE KiDS
• JAZZ HOUSE KiDScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of GiANT STEPS: America at 250 jazz series; provides youth jazz education and professional pathways

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM): Major NYC presenting organization operating multiple venues (BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, BAM Harvey Theater) for theater, dance, music, and opera. Presents ambitious contemporary and international programming — a directly comparable presenting model to PAC NYC, including co-productions and world premieres.
• Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts: Major multi-venue performing arts center in Miami presenting theater, dance, opera, and music, with a comparable mix of resident programming, rentals, donor galas, and educational outreach. Similar scope and nonprofit operating model to PAC NYC, though serving a different market.
• The Shed: New York cultural venue at Hudson Yards opened in 2019 with a flexible, expandable performance space designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Rockwell Group. Like PAC NYC, it presents cross-disciplinary programming (music, dance, theater, visual arts) in reconfigurable spaces and targets both arts audiences and broader cultural programming — making it the closest architectural and programmatic analogue.
• Segerstrom Center for the Arts: Multi-venue performing arts center in Costa Mesa, California presenting Broadway, dance, music, and family programming. Operates on a comparable model of presenting (not producing) across genres with philanthropy, ticket sales, and corporate partnerships as core revenue streams.

Broad incumbents

• Sydney Opera House: Globally iconic performing arts center operating multiple venues for theater, opera, dance, and music. Comparable as a single-site, multi-venue cultural landmark with strong tourism, donor, and civic-programming dimensions — though international and far larger in scale.
• Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts: The largest performing arts complex in the United States, presenting opera, orchestral music, dance, theater, and film across multiple resident organizations. Operates at far greater scale and longer history but competes with PAC NYC for the same NYC audiences, donors, and touring productions.
• Kennedy Center: National cultural center in Washington, D.C. operating multiple theaters (Concert Hall, Opera House, Eisenhower Theater) across theater, music, dance, and opera. Comparable multi-venue presenting model with significant federal and donor backing; broader scale and longer history than PAC NYC.
• Carnegie Hall: Iconic NYC concert venue presenting orchestral, recital, jazz, and world-music programming across its main halls. Comparable as a single-site, multi-format presenting organization reliant on ticket sales, philanthropy, and rentals, though narrower in programming scope than PAC NYC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/100090145611216
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pac-nyc
• Instagraminstagram.com/pac_nyc
• TikToktiktok.com/@pac_nyc

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 Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC)