named programs · 1 · from sources
What they call their work
Space Grant
BAX’s oldest residency program, offering 3–4 month development opportunities for choreographers, theater artists, and multidisciplinary performers; has supported over 200 artists since inception
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Artist Residencies and Studio Programs 2 activities
- Artist Residency ProgramsOffers long-term (18-month) and short-term (3–4 month) residency programs for dance, theater, and multidisciplinary performance artists, providing rehearsal space, financial stipends ($900–$3,000), mentorship, production support, fiscal sponsorship, and opportunities to present works-in-progress. The program has supported over 200 artists since inception and includes targeted inclusion of disabled artists through the Disabled Artist Space Grant.
- Capacity Building for Artists and OrganizationsProvides mentorship, leadership development, and institutional learning opportunities through programs such as EmergeNYC (a Latinx-led incubator for artist-activists), the Access Artistry Learning Circle for NYC arts organizations on disability culture, and the co-founded Helix Queer Performance Network to support emerging queer performers. Also offers open-source curricula and cohort-based training models.
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Community-Engaged Theater Production 1 activity
- Community and Public Engagement ProgramsHosts public events including Open Studios, Work-in-Progress presentations, youth education festivals, and community-based performance series such as Theater to the People—a bilingual workshop creating performances on gentrification, migration, and resilience. Also co-hosted MBDance’s GLORIOUS BODIES workshop series focused on somatic healing and reproductive health for Black and Brown bodies.
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Dance Performance and Community Engagement 1 activity
- Specialized Artist Development ProgramsRuns targeted programs such as ROTATIONS—an online workshop series offering movement classes taught by Mad, Deaf, chronically ill, and disabled dancer artists—and the Drag Performance: Between & Beyond Gender class, a 10–12 week course culminating in a showcase. Also operates the Cuéntame DJ Cohort, training Disabled and/or Queer/Trans individuals in DJing for live festival performance.
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Subsidized Rehearsal and Performance Space 1 activity
- Studio Space Rental and Access InitiativesOffers rental of accessible studio spaces in Brooklyn for rehearsals, performances, classes, workshops, and events. Provides over 50 hours annually at 80 Hanson Place and 25+ hours at Brooklyn College. Administers the Disabled Artist Space Grant and integrates anti-ableist practices across programs, including virtual and in-person access initiatives.
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Comprehensive K–12 Arts Education 1 activity
- Youth Arts Education ProgramsProvides in-school and out-of-school arts education for Pre-K through 12th grade students, including 12-week residencies in movement/dance, music, and drama, youth classes in dance, theater, and tumbling with sliding-scale tuition, and seasonal programs such as summer, midwinter, and spring break camps. Offers free tuition for children of resident artists and hosts festivals like YouthWorks and Teen Artist Exchange that engage youth in professional-level production processes.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$2.31M
Contributions & grants$1.48M64%
Program service revenue$583K25%
Investment income$38K2%
Other revenue$214K
expenses
Total expenses$2.34M
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$1.25M
Grants paid out$99K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$4.42M
Cash$1.35M
Investments$0
Liabilities$2.90M
Net assets$1.51M
Liquid reserves6.9 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue -15.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARA GILMOUR | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (RESIGNED 9/30/2024) | 40 | $115K |
| VANESSA ADATO | CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FINANCE & OPERATIONS (SINCE 10/1/2024) | 40 | $104K |
| GEORGE EMILIO SANCHEZ | BOARD MEMBER (EX OFFICIO) | 1 | $5K |
board members · 12
- AMY SUMNER — SECRETARY
- JANE HOLZKA PHD — BOARD MEMBER
- JIMENA MARTINEZ — BOARD MEMBER
- LESLIE WEBER — CHAIR
- MAIA WECHSLER — BOARD MEMBER
- MARIANA VALENCIA — BOARD MEMBER
- OLIVER FEIN MD — BOARD MEMBER
- RAINE MARTIN — TREASURER
- REBECCA CARDWELL — BOARD MEMBER
- SARA PALMER — BOARD MEMBER
- VICTOR M BROWN — BOARD MEMBER
- ZOHREH AHMAD AIA — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 39
Who they work with
- Abrons Arts Center Partner — Hosted the premiere of george emilio sánchez’s performance “In the Court of the Conqueror” and supported his social practice residency.
- Art by Construction Workers Partner — Hosts the Art by Construction Workers exhibition annually, integrating construction workers' art into BAX's cultural programming.
- Art in Odd Places Partner — Partnered with Art in Odd Places on a performance project involving artists So and Bex.
- BAX Artist Programs Staff Partner — Provides feedback and support during in-progress showings by Space Grant artists.
- Brooklyn College School of Visual, Media and Performing Arts Partner — Partners with BAX and CUNY Dance Initiative to support the residency, including providing studio space and teaching opportunities.
- Brooklyn New School Partner — Partnered with BAX for in-school residencies, the 4th Grade Musical Production, and the Interrupting Bigotry program.
- CUNY Dance Initiative Partner — Collaborates with BAX on a two-year arts and social justice residency program.
- CUNY Dance Initiative Partner — Collaborative residency program under the ROTATIONS initiative at Brooklyn College.
- Center for Artistic Activism Network — Marlène Ramírez-Cancio serves on the Board of Advisors, indicating organizational connection.
- Cheri Stokes Partner — Artist in Residence at BAX for the 2024–2025 cycle, supported as a Brooklyn-born choreographer with an M.F.A. in Choreography.
- Cuéntame Partner — Partners with Cuéntame to co-host the DJ Cohort for Disabled and/or Queer/Trans DJs.
- Cuéntame Partner — Partnership to develop a DJ cohort for Disabled and/or Queer/Trans individuals as part of the Practice Lab.
- Dixon Place Partner — Presented the premiere of george emilio sánchez’s performance “XIV” in June 2019.
- EMERGENYC Partner — Collaborated with EMERGENYC on a performance partnership involving AIR alumni So and Bex.
- EMERGENYC Partner — Collaborated with EMERGENYC on a performance project involving artists So and Bex.
- Elisabeth Motley Partner — Artist in Residence at BAX for the 2024–2025 cycle, supported as a Disabled, neurodivergent, and Mad choreographer and scholar.
- Ella Baker School Partner — Collaborated with BAX on the Interrupting Bigotry program, including script development and performance exchanges.
- Ford Foundation Funder — Funded the Access Artistry Learning Circle through its Arts Futures program.
- Hemispheric Institute of Performance & Politics Partner — Co-founding partner in the Helix Queer Performance Network to support emerging queer performers.
- Junior Mintt Partner — Guest facilitator who has participated in BAX’s drag performance class with specialized workshops.
- LOTUS BOY Partner — Guest facilitator who has contributed to BAX’s drag performance class.
- La MaMa Experimental Theater Club Partner — Co-founding partner in the Helix Queer Performance Network to support emerging queer performers.
- Miz Jade Partner — Guest facilitator who has contributed expertise in drag performance and persona development to BAX’s program.
- NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Provided the Disabled Space Grant via the Disability Forward Fund in 2018–20.
- NYU’s Hemispheric Institute Partner — Original institutional home where EmergeNYC was first launched in 2008.
- National Performance Network Network — Marlène Ramírez-Cancio serves on the Board of Directors, indicating organizational affiliation and collaboration.
- New York City Department of Education Government — BAX is a longtime Arts Services vendor providing arts programming in NYC public schools.
- Ogemdi Ude Partner — Artist in Residence at BAX for the 2024–2025 cycle, supported in developing new performance work.
- PS 261 Partner — Engaged BAX for arts programming, including Gender Expression Workshops and in-school residencies.
- PS 321 Partner — Hosted BAX for after-school enrichment programming.
+ 9 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.
- Anti-Oppressive and Identity-Expansive Pedagogymethodology: anti-oppressive pedagogyBy centering anti-racist, gender-expansive, and disability justice principles in arts education and performance training, the organization enables authentic identity exploration and upstander behavior, because pedagogical models that dismantle systemic norms foster confidence, voice, and collective liberation.
- Arts and Social Justice Integrationmethodology: arts-and-social-justiceBy integrating artistic development with social justice goals, the organization advances equity and community engagement, because creative expression fosters leadership and challenges systemic inequities, particularly among BIPOC, migrant, and LGBTQIA+ artist-activists.
- Cohort-Based, Process-Oriented Artist Developmentmethodology: cohort-based incubatorBy using a cohort-based, process-centered residency model that prioritizes inquiry, peer exchange, and collaborative development over polished outcomes, the organization deepens artistic innovation and sustainability, because emergent, non-competitive learning environments foster risk-taking and long-term growth.
- Intergenerational Collective Power Buildingmethodology: collective_power_buildingBy fostering intergenerational networks of artist-activists through mentorship and collaborative infrastructure, the organization strengthens cultural continuity and transformative change, because shared lineage and peer-supported leadership amplify marginalized voices and sustain justice-oriented art.