named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Secret City Art Revival
Annual multi-day festival in Woodstock, NY featuring performances, workshops, processions, and a culminating "art revival" service with music, storytelling, and community participation
Secret City Radio Hour
Weekly radio show broadcast in Kingston, NY, featuring music, storytelling, and artistic content from the Secret City community
Secret City Sunday Service
Regularly held events in NYC, LA, and the Hudson Valley modeled as non-religious worship services celebrating art through music, choir, storytelling, food, and ritual
Winter Solstice Celebration
Annual event in Los Angeles marking the winter solstice with a beach gathering, bonfire, s'mores, guest performers, and communal reflection
activities · 5 groups
What they do
-
Literary Events & Workshops 2 activities
- Hosts weekly community events featuring poetry, storytelling, music, and community interactionOrganizes weekly in-person and online events called Secret City Fridays and Sunday Service, featuring poetry, storytelling, live music, meditation, and community gatherings with shared food and coffee hours. Events are held in New York City, Los Angeles, and online, with admission by suggested donation and free childcare provided.
- Offers writing intensives and creative development programsHosts a weekend writing intensive program called Writing Life led by Chris Wells, providing structured creative development opportunities for participants.
-
-
Community Choral Rehearsals & Performances 1 activity
- Maintains performing ensembles and community arts groupsOperates a community choir active in New York, Los Angeles, and the Hudson Valley, and maintains an in-house band of named musicians for performances at events, contributing to the collective artistic experience across gatherings and festivals.
-
-
Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
- Organizes annual and seasonal festivals featuring art, music, storytelling, and community processionsProduces the annual Secret City Art Revival in Woodstock as a multi-day festival featuring art, music, storytelling, meditation, and community interaction, including home-based performances, site-specific artistic acts, and a culminating processional with handmade puppets, banners, and kites. Also hosts annual Winter Solstice celebrations in New York City and Los Angeles with bonfires, guest performers, and s'mores.
-
-
Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
- Produces recurring radio and live performance programming with rotating artistsProduces a weekly radio show in Kingston, New York, and organizes regular events with rotating line-ups of artists and performers, including recurring community artists, across New York, Los Angeles, and Woodstock.
-
-
Nonprofit Retail and Merchandise Sales 1 activity
- Sells merchandise to support programming and community engagementOperates a merchandise program offering t-shirts, hoodies, and other items to promote awareness, connection, and fundraising for The Secret City, including limited-edition items during seasonal campaigns.
-
financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$70K
Contributions & grants$67K96%
Program service revenue$3K4%
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$62K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$10K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$10K
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -6.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER WELLS | ARTISTIC DIRECTOR | 10 | $28K |
relationships · 21
Who they work with
- Amazon Smile Partner — Partners with Amazon Smile to raise funds through eligible purchases.
- Bootleg Theater Partner — Venue for quarterly Secret City events in Los Angeles.
- BreezeChMS Partner — Uses BreezeChMS for event registration and form management.
- Byrdcliffe Barn Partner — Hosts events for the Secret City Art Revival, including the opening gathering.
- Catskill Interpretive Center Partner — Collaborates on the creation of the annual processional and artistic elements for the Woodstock Revival.
- Dixon Place Partner — Hosts The Secret City events.
- Dixon Place Partner — Hosts The Secret City's monthly events on the Lower East Side in New York City.
- Facebook Partner — Hosts Secret City Friday events on Facebook
- Facebook Partner — Platform used for hosting live events and community interaction.
- Instagram Partner — Hosts Secret City Friday events on Instagram
- Instagram Partner — Platform used for hosting live events and community interaction.
- Jeremy Bass Partner — Music director and guitarist for The Secret City Band
- John Brodeur Partner — Regular bass player in The Secret City Band
- Judson Church Partner — Hosts The Secret City's annual Winter Solstice celebration.
- LGBTQ Center in Kingston Partner — Collaborates on the creation of the annual processional and artistic elements for the Woodstock Revival.
- Laural Meade Partner — Head Choir Mistress for The Secret City Singers
- Leah Coloff Partner — Cello player in The Secret City Band
- Mt. Tremper Arts Partner — Collaborates on the creation of the annual processional and artistic elements for the Woodstock Revival.
- Philosophical Research Society Partner — Host venue for The Secret City Sunday Service events
- Philosophical Research Society Partner — Venue host for The Secret City's Sunday Service events in Los Angeles.
- Woodstock School of Art Partner — Collaborates on the creation of the annual processional and artistic elements for the Woodstock Revival.
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.
- Art as Spiritual Alternativemethodology: art-as-worshipBy framing live art events as worship-like experiences rooted in creativity rather than doctrine, we produce belonging and transcendence, because people seek sacred space and ritual — which art can provide in a secular, inclusive context.
- Art-Centered Communal Ritualmethodology: art-centered_ritualBy hosting art-centered gatherings structured as secular rituals — modeled on spiritual or religious services — we produce deep community connection and personal transformation, because shared ceremonial experiences create emotional resonance and collective meaning without requiring religious belief.
- Artist-First Community Buildingmethodology: artist-centered_communityBy centering artists' well-being and creative expression as foundational, we produce stronger community engagement and resilience, because supporting artists as cultural healers fosters authentic connection and inspires collective renewal.