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Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Inc

Liberty, NY · EIN 454083198 · Form 990 · FY2023 · NTEE A20 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Large ($10M-$50M) · bethelwoodscenter.org
revenue
$24.1M
expenses
$25.8M
net assets
$21.9M
employees
506
volunteers
199
program ratio
85%
mission · from form 990

To inspire, educate, and empower individuals through the arts and humanities.

profile · synthesized from sources

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts is a nonprofit cultural organization located on the historic 1969 Woodstock festival site in Bethel, New York. Since opening in 2006, it has served over 4 million visitors through concerts, a museum, educational programs, and community events. Rooted in a legacy of peace and music, the organization advances access to the arts through youth, teen, and adult programs, while stewarding the historic site for future generations.

named programs · 12 · from sources

What they call their work

Adult Winter Wellness
Winter wellness classes for adults combining expressive arts, yoga, and sound healing to promote holistic well-being.
Bethel Woods on Main
Traveling teaching artist program bringing creative learning residencies to schools and communities across the region.
Family Concert Series
Pay-what-you-can child-friendly concerts on Saturday mornings with pre- and post-concert artistic engagement activities.
Museum Field Trips
Onsite and virtual programs that immerse students in the cultural history of the 1960s through the museum’s exhibits and educational resources.
P.L.A.Y.: Peace, Love, Arts, & You
Summer arts immersion program for children and teens ages 5-15 focusing on collaborative music, art, and creative expression.
Project: Identity
Program for teens ages 14-18 offering skill development in photography, media design, filmmaking, and music engineering.
Rock Band Jam
Monthly music drop-in for adults to engage in collaborative music-making and performance.
Rock Camp Ambassador Program
Advanced music program for former P.L.A.Y. Rock Camp participants ages 14-18, focusing on ensemble techniques, songwriting, and audio engineering.
Sensory-Friendly Museum Days
Inclusive museum experiences with modified lighting and sound, trained staff, and downloadable sensory resources for visitors with autism and developmental disabilities.
Studio at the Woods
Year-round studio classes and after-school workshops for children ages 7-13 in music, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, and design.
The Art & Architecture Festival
Annual festival where university students and instructors build interactive art installations on-site, from design to completion.
Youth Leadership Day
Program for local high school students featuring presentations and interactive sessions on finding passion and purpose.
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • Guided Historic Site Tours 2 activities
    • Delivers customized educational outreach and group programs
      Provides immersive educational experiences about the 1960s for schools and community groups, including customized visits, artist residencies, and traveling teaching artist programs. Also hosts Youth Leadership Day for local high school students to explore personal passion and purpose.
    • Operates museum and educational programs on 1960s history and the Woodstock festival
      Runs an award-winning museum that preserves and interprets the cultural significance of the 1960s and the 1969 Woodstock Music & Art Fair, offering on-site and virtual educational programs for students and groups. Includes Sensory-Friendly Museum Days and downloadable resources to support accessibility.
  • Free Outdoor Music Concerts 1 activity
    • Hosts concerts, festivals, and public events on campus
      Hosts concerts, festivals, and family-friendly events on its grounds, including a monthly family concert series and pay-what-you-can performances designed for young children and sensory-inclusive audiences. The venue accommodates gatherings of various sizes and types.
  • Managed Campground and Retreat Operations 1 activity
    • Manages on-site campground and RV accommodations
      Operates a campground offering overnight stays and RV accommodations for festival attendees and visitors, providing access to a natural environment at the historic Woodstock site. Includes stay-put RV rentals for guests who want amenities without transporting their own vehicle.
  • Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
    • Provides year-round arts and humanities programming for diverse audiences
      Offers music, visual, performing, and creative arts programs for people of all ages, including children, teens, adults, and families, through classes, workshops, concerts, and festivals. Programming includes after-school workshops, summer camps, and community events focused on skill development, self-expression, and collaboration.
  • Arts Education Professional Development 1 activity
    • Runs a Teaching Artist Program with training and professional development
      Contracts professional teaching artists for 12-month residencies and provides project-based opportunities with stipends. Offers initial training on organizational history, museum collections, and policies, plus ongoing professional development to support effective teaching for diverse audiences.
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$24.14M
Contributions & grants$4.73M20%
Program service revenue$17.82M74%
Investment income$260K1%
Other revenue$1.33M
expenses
Total expenses$25.79M
Program expenses85%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$5.41M
Grants paid out$330K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$28.57M
Cash$884K
Investments$20K
Liabilities$6.67M
Net assets$21.90M
Liquid reserves0.4 mo
2 years on record · 2020–2023 · YoY revenue +298.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

paid leadership · 6
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Eric Frances CEO/CFO/Trustee 40 $453K
Paul Lloyd Overhead General Manager 40 $212K
Paul Christman Treasurer 40 $175K
Susan Russ Senior Director of Marketing & Communications 40 $156K
Suzanne Morris Senior Director of Museum Education 40 $145K
Daniel Melchick Senior Director of Facilities 40 $120K
board members · 14
  • Adam Gerry — Trustee
  • Alan Gerry — Board Chairman/Trustee
  • Frank Brown — Trustee
  • Glenn Friedman — Trustee
  • Jeffrey Gerson — Trustee
  • Judith Janney — Trustee
  • Kathy Frommer — Trustee
  • Keith Suehnholz — Vice Chairman/Trustee
  • Mike Watkins — Trustee
  • Paul Guenther — Secretary/Trustee
  • Rich Rowley — Trustee
  • Ronald Greenberg — Trustee
  • Steve Marton — Trustee
  • Stuart Salenger — Trustee
relationships · 81

Who they work with

  • Annelise Gerry and Family Funder — Family donor supporting education and creative programs.
  • Annelise Gerry and Family Funder — Family donors supporting education and creative programs.
  • Annelise Gerry and Family Funder — Provides financial support for education and creative programs.
  • Annelise Gerry and Family Funder — Provides funding for education and creative programs.
  • Board of Trustees Government — Collaborates with senior leadership on fundraising strategy, governance, and institutional decision-making.
  • Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation Funder — Foundation funder supporting education and creative programs.
  • Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation Funder — Foundation providing financial support for education and creative programs.
  • Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation Funder — Provides funding for education and creative programs.
  • Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation Funder — Supports education and creative programs through foundation giving.
  • Craig and Sue Van Cott - UNALAM Funder — Family and organization donors supporting education and creative programs.
  • Craig and Sue Van Cott - UNALAM Funder — Family and organization providing financial support for education and creative programs.
  • Craig and Sue Van Cott - UNALAM Funder — Provides financial support for education and creative programs through individual and corporate channels.
  • Craig and Sue Van Cott - UNALAM Funder — Provides funding for education and creative programs.
  • DIANNIC LLC Funder — Corporate donor providing financial support for education and creative programs.
  • DIANNIC LLC Funder — Corporate donor supporting education and creative programs.
  • DIANNIC LLC Funder — Provides funding for education and creative programs.
  • DIANNIC LLC Funder — Supports education and creative programs through corporate giving.
  • Development Committee Coalition — Works with the Senior Director of Development to advance fundraising goals and strengthen board-level donor engagement.
  • Grimm Construction Inc. Funder — Corporate donor providing financial support for education and creative programs.
  • Grimm Construction Inc. Funder — Corporate donor supporting education and creative programs.
  • Grimm Construction Inc. Funder — Provides funding for education and creative programs.
  • Grimm Construction Inc. Funder — Supports education and creative programs through corporate sponsorship.
  • Heather and Matthew Potter & Family / Nexxt Enterprises LLC Funder — Family and corporate donor supporting education and creative programs.
  • Heather and Matthew Potter & Family / Nexxt Enterprises LLC Funder — Family and corporate donors supporting education and creative programs.
  • Heather and Matthew Potter & Family / Nexxt Enterprises LLC Funder — Provides funding for education and creative programs.
  • Heather and Matthew Potter & Family / Nexxt Enterprises LLC Funder — Supports education and creative programs through combined individual and corporate giving.
  • I LOVE NY Government — Collaborates on promotional materials for the new campground, as indicated in the press release titled "BW-Camping-Release-2024-for-I-LOVE-NY".
  • Irwin Siegel Agency - Howard Siegel - President Funder — Agency and individual donor supporting education and creative programs.
  • Irwin Siegel Agency - Howard Siegel - President Funder — Provides funding for education and creative programs.
  • Irwin Siegel Agency - Howard Siegel - President Funder — Supports education and creative programs through agency-based giving.
+ 51 more
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Artist-Centered Residencies and Collaboration
    methodology: artist_centered_programming
    By aligning programming with artists’ skills and interests and collaborating with local practitioners, the organization enhances artistic quality and community well-being, because artist-driven design increases engagement and program authenticity.
  • Arts-Based Education and Empowerment
    methodology: arts-based_education
    By providing access to arts and humanities programming, the organization inspires, educates, and empowers individuals, fostering personal growth and social change because creative engagement is a catalyst for transformation.
  • Cultural-Heritage Anchoring for Engagement
    methodology: cultural_heritage_programming
    By leveraging the historic significance of the 1969 Woodstock festival site, the organization creates culturally immersive experiences that deepen public connection to the arts and promote collective well-being, because shared cultural legacy fosters meaningful engagement.
  • Pay-What-You-Can Access Model
    methodology: pay_what_you_can
    By implementing a pay-what-you-can pricing model, the organization increases accessibility to the arts, particularly for underserved populations, because financial flexibility removes barriers to participation and broadens community inclusion.