What viBe Theater Experience does

viBe Theater Experience is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit performing arts organization founded on August 17, 2002. Its mission centers on delivering free theater and music arts education, leadership development, academic support, and mental health and wellness services to girls, young women, and transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) youth of color ages 13 to 26 in New York City and nationally. The organization reports a 100% graduation rate among participants, compared to a 70-80% baseline for New York State public high schools serving similar demographics.

The organization's program portfolio is organized as a progressive arts pathway. Foundational offerings include viBeStages (collaborative original theater production), viBeSongmakers (album-writing and recording program), and the Wellness Program (culturally responsive mental health services launched in October 2020 in partnership with Liberation-Based Therapy). Advanced tiers include viBeCompany (pre-professional ensemble for ages 18-26), viBeCollaB (alumni arts incubator), viBeLeadership Institute (teaching artist training), viBeApprentices (paid year-long internship), and the viBeOut LGBTQIA+ multidisciplinary residency. The Alumni Portal extends engagement beyond program tenure with job resources and community connection. Programming is delivered through direct workshops, school residencies, community partnerships, and professional performances staged at venues including The Flea Theater, WP Theater, and with the New York Philharmonic.

The business model is grant-dependent nonprofit funding, with no fees charged to participants. Revenue is sourced from federal agencies (NEA Grants for Arts Projects), municipal funders (NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Cultural Development Fund, sustained for 11+ years), and major private foundations including Howard Gilman Foundation (20+ years), Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Ford Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, New York Life Foundation, Brooklyn Arts Council, New York Women's Foundation, Tides Foundation, and the New York Community Trust. Individual donations are accepted through a Kindful donation portal. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Co-Executive Directors Beryl Ford and Michelan LeMonier. Distribution is community-led via school and community organization partnerships, with bookings handled through email inquiries.

Name

viBe Theater Experience

Legal name

viBe Theater Experience

Website

https://vibetheater.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

viBe Theater Experience is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free theater, music, and wellness programming to girls, young women, and TGNC youth of color ages 13-26 in New York City and nationally, funded primarily by foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Drama Education (Acting, Improvisation, Musical Theater) (EDAMAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts Education & Community Arts Programs (BPAGAHAC), Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE), Recreation Therapy, Stress Management & Mindfulness Programs (EDALAFAO)

Keywords

• Performing arts education
• Youth arts programs
• Theater arts training
• Music education nonprofit
• Youth leadership development

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: viBe operates as a nonprofit organization funded primarily through grants from foundations and government agencies. Major funders include National Endowment for the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, Howard Gilman Foundation, Ford Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and others.
2. Individual Donations: The organization accepts individual donations through their Kindful donation portal, supporting their programming and operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

viBe Theater Experience delivers free performing arts education programs for girls, young women, and gender-expansive youth of color ages 13-26. Its core programs include viBeStages (foundational collaborative theater performance), viBeSongmakers (music writing, recording, and album production), viBeCompany (pre-professional theater ensemble), and viBeCollaB (advanced conservatory). Supporting offerings include viBeApprentices (paid internship), viBeLeadership Institute (teaching artist training), the Wellness Program (mental health and wellness services), and the Alumni Portal.

Product overview

viBe Theater Experience offers a suite of performing arts programs for girls, young women, and gender-expansive youth of color ages 13-26. The core offerings include viBeStages (cornerstone theater program), viBeSongmakers (music production), viBeCompany (pre-professional ensemble), and viBeCollaB (advanced conservatory), which together form a progressive pathway from foundational training to professional production. Supporting programs include viBeApprentices (paid internship), viBeLeadership Institute (teaching artist training), and the Wellness Program (mental health support). The organization also offers workshops, performances, and residencies as direct service offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• viBeStages: Cornerstone theater program providing collaborative performance experience where 6-12 femme/gender-expansive artists work with professional theater directors to write and perform originally written and produced shows. Includes variants: viBePhrases (choreoplays/movement), viBeOut (BIPOC LGBTQ+ affinity), viBeSolos (solo performance), viBePages to Stages (playwriting).
• viBeSongmakers
• viBeCompany
• viBeCollaB
• viBeApprentices
• viBeLeadership Institute
• viBeOut
• Wellness Program

Products and services

• viBeStages viBe's cornerstone collaborative theater program in which 6-12 femme/gender-expansive artists ages 13-26 work with professional theater directors to write and perform originally written and produced shows. Designed as foundational training for girls, young women, and TGNC youth of color.
• viBeSongmakers A 6-month music program providing 6-14 artists ages 13-26 with songwriting, recording, composing, and arranging instruction paired with professional musicians and producers to produce a full-length album. For girls, young women, and TGNC youth of color.
• viBeCompany A pre-professional theater ensemble for ages 18-26 producing and performing one full-length show each year, with ongoing training in devised/experimental theater, movement/choreography, design, stage management, and directing, including paid performance opportunities.
• viBeCollaB An advanced artistic conservatory and arts incubator/production company for viBe alumni of viBeCompany and viBeLeadership Institute, providing intensive multi-disciplinary theater training, mentorships, and resources for individual productions.
• viBeApprentices A paid year-long internship program in Fall, Spring, and Summer seasons for youth ages 14-26 interested in careers in theater, music, arts nonprofit, and arts administration, developing leadership skills through hands-on experiences alongside viBe staff.
• viBeLeadership Institute An artistic training program for early-mid career femme/gender-expansive Teaching Artists of color and young viBe alumni, providing workshops, a retreat, and ongoing professional development to lead arts programs.
• Wellness Program A comprehensive mental health and wellness program providing culturally responsive therapy, individual and group sessions, restorative movement, and wellness resources (yoga, pilates, breath-work, bio-energetics, reiki, herbalism) for viBe participants ages 13-26 and staff.
• Alumni Portal An online community platform for viBe program alumni to connect, share resources, access internship and job opportunities, get interview advice, and stay informed about viBe activities.
• Workshops Workshops delivering collaborative art-making techniques specifically and intentionally designed with girls and young women of color, providing safer spaces for uncensored self-expression. Bookable via email.
• Performances Professionally produced and staged performances in notable theaters across the U.S., bookable via email, emphasizing storytelling that moves lived experiences of girls and young women of color from margin to center.
• Residencies Radical healing framework residencies uplifting young artists through collaborative ensemble performances, holding space for participants to engage in creative expression. Bookable via email.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% graduation rate among all program participants
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Liberation-Based Therapy (LBT)coreOthersFounded in October 2019, LBT provides culturally responsive mental health services to viBe participants. LBT clinicians conduct group wellness sessions monthly, individual bi-weekly wellness sessions, and co-developed the Wellness Program with viBe leadership. Tanisha Christie, LCSW, serves as Wellness Program Director.
• Camille A. Brown & DancersminorOthersWellness partnership providing restorative movement and healing-based services to viBe participants and staff.
• Linda Lopes of LL in WellnessminorOthersWellness partnership providing wellness services including yoga and restorative practices.
• Avél Juliette PilatesminorOthersWellness partnership providing pilates instruction and restorative wellness services.
• Colored Girls Hustle Inc. (Taja Lindley)minorOthersWellness partnership providing movement and healing-based services through creative arts.
• Akika Flower Essences and Apothecary (Renee Smith)minorOthersWellness partnership providing herbalism and flower essence services.
• Betty's Daughter Arts Collaborative (Ebony Noelle Golden)minorOthersWellness partnership providing arts-based healing and community wellness programming.
• The Circle KeepersminorOthersWellness partnership providing community-based wellness services.
• WP TheatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDomestic partner organization. WP Theater hosted workshop of Black Girl Joy by Phanésia Pharel as part of their 2021 Incubation Series, co-produced by viBe. viBe considers it a privilege to partner with WP Theater and share their artists' work.
• The Flea TheatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner for performances. viBe has collaborated with The Flea Theater on various productions including Juneteenth events.
• Brooklyn NetsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partnership for community engagement and artistic collaborations, including Brooklyn Nets' tribute to Broadway during Black History Month.
• New York PhilharmoniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerformance partner for World Premiere arrangement of 'We Shall Overcome' by 13-year-old Philharmonic Very Young Composer Jordan Millar. viBe performers participated alongside Abyssinian Baptist Church Cathedral Choir, The Dessoff Choirs, and Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music Symphonic Choir.
• Egg & Spoon Theatre CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-produced Black Girl Joy by Phanésia Pharel as part of Egg & Spoon's Incubation Series at WP Theater in November 2021.
• Morgan Stanley (MS INC Program)minorOthersMorgan Stanley's Institutional Nonprofit Collaborative (MS INC) matches junior professionals with youth development nonprofits for specialized organizational support. viBe was part of the 10th anniversary cohort receiving pro bono consulting support.
• Bloomberg Arts InternshipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing internship opportunities for viBe youth to gain professional experience in arts administration and theater.
• Oliver ScholarsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with program preparing high-achieving Black and Latinx students for success at top independent high schools and prestigious colleges. viBe's Co-Executive Director spoke on panel about issues impacting girls and women of color.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Urban Arts Partnership: NYC-based nonprofit providing arts education and youth development programs to underserved students, directly comparable to viBe's mission of using performing arts to serve youth of color in NYC.
• The New Victory Theater: NYC's leading performing arts venue dedicated to youth and families, offering theater programming and education programs targeted at young audiences, comparable to viBe's youth-centered performing arts programming.
• Atlantic Theater Company - Education Program: NYC theater company with extensive education and outreach programs for youth including free arts programming, comparable to viBe's free theater and music education offerings.
• Young Audiences (Arts for Learning): National nonprofit network delivering arts education programs to K-12 students, similar in delivering free arts programming to underserved youth through school and community partnerships.
• New York Theatre Workshop - Education: Off-Broadway theater company with education and community engagement programs including youth programs, comparable in NYC-based theater education offering.

Broad incumbents

• Roundabout Theatre Company - Education: Major NYC theater institution with significant education and community engagement programs for young people, an incumbent with overlapping youth arts education capabilities.
• 92nd Street Y (92Y): NYC cultural institution offering youth arts classes, music education, and theater programming, broader in scope but overlapping in providing performing arts education to youth.
• Steppenwolf Theatre Company - Education: Major theater institution with youth education programs including theater training for young people, comparable in offering pre-professional performing arts pathways.
• Lincoln Center Education: Major performing arts institution running extensive education and youth programs; broader in scope but addresses similar youth arts education and partnership landscape.

Emerging players

• Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater: NYC-based Latino theater company with significant youth and community programming, comparable to viBe in serving communities of color through performing arts and arts education.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2909489
• Facebookfacebook.com/viBeTheater

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 viBe Theater Experience