Grants for Indie Theater, Dance, and Multidisciplinary Performance Venues in NYC

IndieSpace has opened The Little Venue That Could Grant Program, offering crucial support to New York City’s indie theater, dance, and multidisciplinary performance venues.

The Little Venue That Could was created to provide unrestricted general operating support to New York City-based indie theater, dance, and multidisciplinary venues with expense budgets under $500,000.

Thanks to generous support from the Howard Gilman Foundation, selected venues will receive:

• $10,000 per year, for two years (2025–2026)
• Unrestricted general operating support
• Access to professional development opportunities (valued at $5,000)

Requirements

You are eligible to apply for this grant if:

Your entity is an indie theater, dance, or multidisciplinary venue with a performance space

• Your venue has at least one space with less than 99 seats
• Your venue has been in operation for at least two years, including 2025
• Your organization’s expense budget is $500k or LESS in your last completed fiscal year i.e. July 2023-June 2024 or Jan 2024-Dec 2024.
• Your venue is open and is in active use
• Your venue is rented or owned with a signed lease, license agreement, or deed. Please reach out to discuss if you have a non-traditional agreement with your landlord.
• Your venue is located within the 5 boroughs of New York City
• Your venue is a 501c3, fiscally sponsored by a 501c3, an S Corp, B Corp, LLC, or LLP
• Your venue IS NOT a direct annual Howard Gilman Foundation grantee. Current direct, annual Howard Gilman Foundation grantees are not eligible for this grant. If you are a recipient of other regrants funded by Howard Gilman Foundation, that is fine. If you have questions about your eligibility please contact your Howard Gilman Foundation program officer or hello@indiespace.org for more information. Venues who have received funding from IndieSpace through any of our other funding programs are still eligible to apply.
• Your venue IS NOT a previous recipient of a The Little Venue That Could Grant.

Application Instructions

To learn more, please visit: https://www.indiespace.org/venue-grant

To start your application, please visit: https://bit.ly/little-venue-that-could

Questions? Attend an upcoming open house or email us at hello@indiespace.org.