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POWERHOUSE ARTS INC
BROOKLYN, NY · EIN 460776852 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A25 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Large ($10M-$50M) · powerhousearts.org
revenue
$16.0M
expenses
$20.9M
net assets
$156.9M
employees
108
volunteers
8
program ratio
55%
mission · from form 990

POWERHOUSE IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION COMMITTED TO CREATIVE EXPRESSION. POWERHOUSE HAS FABRICATION SHOPS IN PRINT, DIGITAL PRINT, CERAMICS AND LARGE-SCALE INSTALLATION, AS WELL AS CERAMICS AND PRINT MEMBERSHIP STUDIOS. IT ALSO PRODUCES ITS OWN EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS.

profile · synthesized from sources

Powerhouse Arts is a nonprofit creative production center in Brooklyn, New York, dedicated to supporting artists through fabrication facilities, studio access, and public programming. The organization operates specialized shops in ceramics, print, and public art, offers membership studios, and produces exhibitions, events, and educational programs. Housed in a reimagined historic power plant, it serves artists and the public while advancing creative expression and community engagement.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $2.42M
    EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTSPOWERHOUSE ARTS PRODUCES AND UNDERTAKES ITS OWN EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES ART EXHIBITIONS, FESTIVALS, AND FAIRS. THERE ARE ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING PUBLIC PROGRAMS, WORKSHOPS, AND CLASSES THAT PROVIDE BOTH LEARNING AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.
  2. #2 $1.96M
    MEMBERSHIP STUDIOSMEMBERSHIP TO THE COMMUNITY CERAMICS STUDIO AND MGC COMMUNITY PRINT STUDIO PROVIDES FLEXIBLE ACCESS TO WORKSHOP FACILITIES. THESE MEMBERSHIPS ALSO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES.
named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Education, Engagement, and Community-Building
Workshops, classes, work-based learning programs, artist residencies, and youth initiatives such as the Youth Advisory Council and paid internships
Exhibitions and Events
Production of art exhibitions, fairs, performances, screenings, and talks, including major public exhibitions like "The Ark" and the Powerhouse: International Festival
Fabrication Shops
Fee-based fabrication services in ceramics, print (including screenprinting and digital print), and public art, supporting artists in producing work in a safe, collaborative, and cost-effective environment
Membership Studios
Access to the Community Ceramics Studio and MGC Community Print Studio, offering artists flexible workspace, equipment, materials, and professional support
PHA Store
Onsite and online retail shop offering limited editions, unique product drops, and works by artists, makers, and educators connected to Powerhouse Arts
Venue Rentals
Rental of unique event spaces for private and corporate events, with proceeds supporting the organization’s creative mission
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • Community Art Education Workshops 2 activities
    • Delivering public programs, workshops, and community art events
      Offers free, monthly drop-in art workshops for families and all ages, hosts community art-making events at public housing sites, and organizes day-long interdisciplinary gatherings that combine festival, symposium, and ritual elements to explore themes like human-animal relationships and ecological change.
    • Operating shared studio facilities for ceramic and print artists
      Provides professional studio spaces in ceramics and printmaking with access to equipment, materials, and technical support, offered through paid memberships, drop-in hourly/day rates, and one-on-one assistance for artists at all levels. Facilities include accessibility features such as wheelchair-accessible table heights and elevator access.
  • Performing Arts Venue Rental 1 activity
    • Operating event venue rental program for cultural and brand events
      Manages multiple industrial event spaces of varying sizes—up to 22,517 square feet accommodating 1,200 people—for concerts, film premieres, fashion shows, brand activations, and film shoots, with proceeds supporting artist programs. Hosted high-profile events such as the music video shoot for Ariana Grande’s “yes, and?”.
  • Artist Marketplace Operations 1 activity
    • Operating retail sales of artist-created products and exhibition-related merchandise
      Runs pop-up and online retail spaces selling artworks and products created by staff, studio members, and artists, including exhibition-related items, with the majority of proceeds benefiting the artists directly.
  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
    • Producing and presenting public art exhibitions and group shows
      Curates and hosts major public exhibitions such as "The Ark" and "Unmoored / Unbound," featuring large-scale artworks and sculptures, alongside exhibitions that engage with local environmental and industrial histories. These include both in-house productions and collaborations with external artist coalitions.
  • Arts Education Professional Development 1 activity
    • Supporting artist development through fellowships, classes, and mentorship
      Offers educational programming including classes in traditional and experimental printmaking, artist talks, fellowships, and one-on-one mentorship sessions. Also runs reciprocal artist fellowship programs, youth advisory councils, and work-based learning opportunities to build professional capacity among artists and educators.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Providing end-to-end fabrication services for public art and custom projects
      Offers professional fee-based fabrication and project management services across ceramics, print (including screenprinting and digital), textiles, architectural metalwork, and handmade wallpaper, supporting artists and institutions from conception through installation and maintenance. Also produces custom event elements and large-format graphics in-house.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$16.03M
Contributions & grants$7.37M46%
Program service revenue$3.27M20%
Investment income$5.17M32%
Other revenue$229K
expenses
Total expenses$20.93M
Program expenses55%
Admin / overhead42%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$7.61M
Grants paid out$279K
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$317.13M
Cash$4.35M
Investments$0
Liabilities$160.26M
Net assets$156.87M
Liquid reserves2.5 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +82.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 8
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ERIC SHINER PRESIDENT 40 $416K
STEVEN M BATTAGLIA SR. VICE PRESIDENT 40 $258K
MITCHELL ROTH FACILITIES DIRECTOR 40 $227K
SHAYNA JEFFERS FINANCE DIRECTOR 40 $170K
KARYN WILLIAMS VICE PRESIDENT OF PROGRAMS 40 $163K
ERDINC KAYNAS CHIEF ENGINEER 40 $163K
IRIS GARCIA DIRECTOR OF EVENT VENUE & OPERATIONS 40 $150K
YARISBETH SAGARDIA HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR 40 $147K
board members · 8
  • CASSIE ROSENTHAL — BOARD MEMBER
  • CHRISTOPHER HO — BOARD MEMBER
  • DREAD SCOTT — BOARD MEMBER
  • ELIZABETH BUCKLEY LEWIS — BOARD MEMBER
  • LATOYA RUBY FRAZIER — BOARD MEMBER
  • LAURA HANNA — CHAIR
  • MICHAEL HURST — BOARD MEMBER
  • TRACEY RYANS — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 14

Who they work with

  • Ariana Grande Partner — Collaborated on the production of the music video for “yes, and?”
  • Brooklyn Fine Art Print Fair Partner — Collaborates on behind-the-scenes print shop tours during the event
  • Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition Partner — Co-presents the juried group exhibition "Unmoored / Unbound" with POWERHOUSE ARTS INC.
  • Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition Partner — Collaborated with BWAC to host the juried group exhibition "Unmoored / Unbound."
  • Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition Partner — Collaborates on the juried group exhibition Unmoored / Unbound exploring themes of loss, transition, liberation, freedom, and deliverance
  • Cassie Rosenthal Funder — Supports The Ark exhibition.
  • Hermès Funder — Provides generous support for The Ark's public programs, Crafternoons, Art Where You Are, and Deluge
  • Hermès Funder — Provides generous support for The Ark's public programs, including Crafternoons, Art Where You Are, and Deluge.
  • Herzog & de Meuron Partner — Collaborated with PBDW Architects to design the Powerhouse Arts facility, reimagining the historic complex for contemporary arts production.
  • NYC Public Schools Partner — Partnership connecting NYC public middle and high schools with industry partners for arts fabrication skills training.
  • PBDW Architects Partner — Collaborated with Herzog & de Meuron on the design of the Powerhouse Arts facility to support the contemporary arts ecosystem.
  • PHA’s Printshop Partner — MGC Community Print Studio functions as the community counterpart to PHA’s Printshop, complementing its print fabrication services.
  • The Alpha Workshops Partner — Resident organization at Powerhouse Arts that produces handmade wallpaper and handwoven/hand-dyed textiles.
  • Workspace11 Partner — Resident organization at Powerhouse Arts specializing in architectural and design metalwork.
strategies · 3

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.

  • Accessible Community-Engaged Art Education
    methodology: community-engaged art programming
    By offering free, drop-in, and recurring art workshops in public and repurposed spaces, especially within public housing, the organization expands access to artistic practice, because removing financial, geographic, and institutional barriers enables broader, intergenerational community participation in cultural life.
  • Artist-Centered Collaborative Fabrication
    methodology: artist-centered_collaborative_fabrication
    By collaborating directly with artists throughout all phases of production and providing technical expertise and project management, POWERHOUSE ARTS ensures high-fidelity realization of complex artworks, because co-creation between artists and skilled fabricators strengthens artistic innovation and execution.
  • Collective Making as Transformative Practice
    methodology: making_as_collective_transformation
    By engaging individuals in hands-on, experimental making within shared creative spaces, the organization fosters personal and community transformation, because the act of collective creation builds connection, agency, and resilience.