The Kitchen
The Kitchen is a 501c3 nonprofit arts institution founded in 1971 in New York City that presents experimental, cross-disciplinary work across dance, film, literature, music, theater, video, and visual art, serving artists, arts audiences, corporate partners, and students through live programming, digital streaming, and archival engagement.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Kitchen does
The Kitchen is a 501c3 nonprofit arts institution founded in 1971 in New York City, dedicated to presenting experimental, cross-disciplinary work across dance, film, literature, music, theater, video, and visual art. It serves experimental artists seeking institutional space to develop and present risk-taking work, arts audiences seeking avant-garde cultural experiences, corporate partners seeking alignment with a respected cultural institution, and students participating in educational programs such as The Kitchen L.A.B. research residency and the Sidney Kahn Summer Institute. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors (chaired by Robert Soros) and led by Executive Director & Chief Curator Legacy Russell, with a 305-person staff spanning curatorial, development, education, production, communications, and operations functions.
The Kitchen's core "products" are its programmatic outputs: On View (current exhibitions and performances), On Screen (the streaming platform launched in July 2020 in response to COVID-19), On File (a digital archive of 50+ years of programming hosted on ArchivesSpace), On Mind (a digital magazine), the Calendar, and ticketing services via OVATIONTIX. Underlying technology is conventional web and streaming infrastructure rather than proprietary platforms; the differentiation is in the content library and curatorial programming rather than in technology per se. Revenue is generated across six streams: ticket sales ($10+ with 20% discounts for students, seniors, and members), memberships (subscription), shop merchandise ($15-$2,000 artist editions), donations and fundraising (including the Leadership Fund), corporate sponsorships (managed via the Director of Development), and annual gala events ($1,500 tickets, $10,000 tables). The institution also generates revenue through space rental and a touring program presenting Kitchen artists nationally and internationally.
The Kitchen is currently in a 'Without Walls' period following the fall 2022 start of a major renovation of its longtime Chelsea headquarters at 512 West 19th Street (acquired from the Dia Art Foundation in 1987). Operations have temporarily relocated to a satellite space at 163B Bank Street within Westbeth Artists Housing, with programming distributed across partner venues such as Queenslab and Montez Press Radio. Public funding support comes from entities including the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York State Council on the Arts, supplemented by foundation grants (e.g., Simons Foundation for L.A.B.).
The Kitchen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Kitchen
- Legal name
- The Kitchen
- Website
- https://thekitchen.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- The Kitchen is a 501c3 nonprofit arts institution founded in 1971 in New York City that presents experimental, cross-disciplinary work across dance, film, literature, music, theater, video, and visual art, serving artists, arts audiences, corporate partners, and students through live programming, digital streaming, and archival engagement.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where The Kitchen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
The Kitchen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from selling tickets to performances, exhibitions, and events at The Kitchen's venues. Discounts available for students, seniors (65+), and members.
- Memberships: Recurring membership program offering various levels with benefits including discounts on tickets, early access to programming, and behind-the-scenes experiences with artists.
- Shop Merchandise: Sale of artist editions, posters, music, apparel, and books. Proceeds directly support artists whose work appears at The Kitchen. Items include artist prints ($1,000-$2,000), posters ($40-$50), and merchandise ($15).
- Donations & Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and institutions supporting the experimental art mission. Includes Leadership Fund for season artists and Director's Council patron program.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Partnerships with like-minded corporate partners who support programming and sustain core operations. Contact Director of Development for information.
- Gala Events: Annual spring gala events honoring artists and cultural figures, with ticket prices starting at $1,500 and tables at $10,000, plus additional sponsorship opportunities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Event Tickets |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Gala Tickets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Shop Merchandise |
| Subscription | Annual | Membership Program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Kitchen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Kitchen is a nonprofit arts institution that presents experimental performances, curated exhibitions, and digital programming across dance, film, literature, music, theater, video, and visual art. It supports artists through residencies, commissions, and live presentations, operates a digital streaming platform (The Kitchen OnScreen), maintains a 50+ year archive (On File), and sells artist editions and merchandise through an online shop. The organization also runs educational programs and a touring program that brings Kitchen artists to national and international venues.
Product overview
The Kitchen operates as a multi-faceted arts institution offering a unified program of live performances, exhibitions, digital streaming, and archival access. Its core offerings include On View (current exhibitions and performances), On Screen (streaming programming), On File (digital archive), On Mind (magazine), and Calendar/ticketing services. The organization supplements these with revenue-generating programs including Shop (merchandise), Membership, Space Rental, and various giving programs (Leadership Fund, Director's Council, Global Council). Educational initiatives include The Kitchen L.A.B. research residency and Sidney Kahn Summer Institute. The institution is currently in a 'Without Walls' period, operating from a satellite location at Westbeth while renovating its Chelsea headquarters.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Kitchen OnScreen: Digital programming platform launched during COVID-19 pandemic for streaming online content
- The Kitchen L.A.B.
- Video Viewing Room
Products and services
- On View Curated exhibitions, performances, and events presented at The Kitchen's venues for audiences seeking experimental art experiences. Includes live performances, gallery exhibitions, and public programming across dance, film, literature, music, theater, video, and visual art.
- On Screen Online streaming platform featuring video works, performances, talks, and digital content available for viewing globally. Includes the Video Viewing Room archive, Kitchen Magazine, Broadcast series, and livestream content. Launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- On Mind Online magazine featuring essays, artist features, and critical writing about experimental art and The Kitchen's programming. Provides editorial context and scholarly commentary on the institution's work.
- Ticketing Service Online and in-person ticketing service for performances and events at The Kitchen venues via OVATIONTIX. Provides 20% discounts for students, seniors (65+), and members on tickets $10 or more. In-person waitlists available for sold-out events.
- The Kitchen Shop Online e-commerce store selling artist editions ($1,000-$2,000), posters ($40-$50), apparel such as tote bags ($15), books, and signed benefit concert items ($500). Proceeds directly support artists whose work appears at The Kitchen. Members receive 10% off shop purchases.
- Membership Program Recurring annual membership program with multiple tiers offering benefits including ticket discounts, early access to programming, and behind-the-scenes experiences with artists. Members provide essential support for the institution's experimental art mission.
- Corporate Sponsorships Partnership opportunities for like-minded corporate partners to support The Kitchen's programming, bring artist visions to new heights, and sustain core operations over time. Contact is Fatima Zaidi, Director of Development.
- Space Rental Rental of The Kitchen's performance and exhibition spaces to artists and organizations for performances, events, and productions.
- The Kitchen L.A.B. (Language, Art, Bodies) Research Residency Yearlong research residency focused on The Kitchen's 50+ year archive, connecting artists and researchers across disciplines. Evolved from the original discursive program series launched in 2012. Supported by the Simons Foundation and School for Poetic Computation.
- Sidney Kahn Summer Institute Intensive summer program for students and young artists to create multidisciplinary works and engage with The Kitchen's archive and history. Provides mentorship, training, and professional development in experimental arts.
- Kitchen Touring Program Program presenting Kitchen artists and performers at national and international venues, launched in 1983 to extend the institution's reach beyond New York City.
Companies that use The Kitchen
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Kitchen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Kitchen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- QueenslabcorePartnership with Queenslab in Ridgewood, Queens for artist residencies. The Kitchen hosted ten artists for residencies between winter 2019 and spring 2021 at this partner venue, representing a shift toward longer-duration residencies.
- Westbeth Artists HousingcoreCurrent satellite location at 163B Bank Street, 4th Floor Loft within Westbeth Artists Housing in the West Village. The Kitchen moved here during renovations of their 19th Street building.
- Dia Art FoundationmajorHistorical partnership: Dia Art Foundation provided The Kitchen's West 19th Street building through an agreement in 1986, and The Kitchen purchased the building from Dia in 1987. This partnership established The Kitchen's long-term Chelsea home.
- Creative TimeminorCollaborated with Creative Time and The New Museum on presenting Survival Research Laboratories performance at Shea Stadium Parking Lot in Queens in 1988.
- The New MuseumminorCollaborated with Creative Time and The New Museum on presenting Survival Research Laboratories performance at Shea Stadium Parking Lot in Queens in 1988.
- Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI)minorHistorical fiscal sponsor from 1971-1973 when The Kitchen operated as an artist collective under the name The Kitchen Center for Video and Music.
- Electronic Cafe InternationalminorThe Kitchen joined this international network in 1994 to produce multimedia performances using video teleconferencing.
- Simons FoundationminorPartner with The Kitchen L.A.B. Research Residency, supporting the yearlong research residency focused on the institution's archive.
- School for Poetic ComputationminorCollaborates with The Kitchen L.A.B. Research Residency on educational programming at the intersection of technology and arts.
- Montez Press Radiocore12-month residency partnership with Montez Press Radio for collaborative programming including 'Sobremesa: Archiving Performance, Performing Archives' and ongoing digital content production.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights7 records
The Kitchen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Drawing Center: SoHo-based nonprofit dedicated to contemporary drawing and experimental practice, with exhibitions, public programs, and an artist-services model analogous to The Kitchen's artist-centered platform.
- White Columns: NYC nonprofit originally founded as an alternative space (112 Greene Street) and now focused on championing emerging and underrepresented artists; shares The Kitchen's experimental, artist-first orientation.
- Pioneer Works: Brooklyn-based nonprofit that combines experimental art, music, science, and education under one roof; comparable mission of supporting risk-taking, multidisciplinary creators and operating residency-style programming.
- New Museum of Contemporary Art: NYC nonprofit kunsthalle focused on contemporary and experimental art across disciplines; closely mirrors The Kitchen's model of artist commissions, exhibitions, and emerging-artist support, but at a larger scale and with a dedicated building.
- Performance Space New York: East Village nonprofit dedicated to experimental performance art — directly comparable to The Kitchen's performance-programming roots, with a similar artist-residency and commissioning model.
- Swiss Institute: NYC nonprofit presenting contemporary art exhibitions, music, and talks with a curatorial bent toward emerging and experimental practices; operates a similar kunsthalle model in the East Village.
- SculptureCenter: NYC nonprofit devoted to experimental sculpture and contemporary art, with artist residencies and a focus on emerging and mid-career artists; shares The Kitchen's commitment to commissioning new, process-driven work.
Broad incumbents
- The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): Larger incumbent NYC institution that increasingly programs boundary-pushing contemporary work; competes for emerging artists, sponsorships, and audiences with The Kitchen but operates at vastly greater scale.
- Whitney Museum of American Art: Major NYC museum with a longstanding commitment to contemporary and experimental American art; overlaps with The Kitchen's programming territory while commanding far larger audiences and budgets.
Others
- The Kitchen (UK) / Band: Listed only to flag naming overlap; not a comparable peer — The Kitchen (NYC) is a nonprofit arts center, while this entity is unrelated.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Kitchen social profiles
Digital presenceThe Kitchen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Kitchen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
The Kitchen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Kitchen M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Kitchen
What does The Kitchen do?
The Kitchen is a nonprofit arts institution that presents experimental performances, curated exhibitions, and digital programming across dance, film, literature, music, theater, video, and visual art. It supports artists through residencies, commissions, and live presentations, operates a digital streaming platform (The Kitchen OnScreen), maintains a 50+ year archive (On File), and sells artist editions and merchandise through an online shop. The organization also runs educational programs and a touring program that brings Kitchen artists to national and international venues.
Is The Kitchen a public or private company?
The Kitchen is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Kitchen founded?
The Kitchen was founded in 1971. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is The Kitchen based?
The Kitchen is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Kitchen make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are memberships, shop Merchandise, donations & Fundraising, corporate Sponsorships and gala Events.
Who are The Kitchen's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Drawing Center, White Columns, Pioneer Works, New Museum of Contemporary Art, Performance Space New York, Swiss Institute and SculptureCenter. Broad incumbents are The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and Whitney Museum of American Art. The Kitchen (UK) / Band is listed as an others.
Does The Kitchen have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Kitchen.