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New York Live Arts Inc

EIN 13-6206608 · New York, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

NEW YORK LIVE ARTS STRIVES TO CREATE A ROBUST FRAMEWORK IN SUPPORT OF THE NATION'S DANCE AND MOVEMENT-BASED ARTISTS THROUGH NEW APPROACHES OF PRODUCING, PRESENTING, AND EDUCATING IN OUR 20,000 SQUARE FOOT HOME, WHICH INCLUDES A 184-SEAT THEATER, TWO 1,200 SQUARE FOOT STUDIOS, AND COMMUNAL SPACE IN THE LOBBY AND CAFE. LIVE ARTS SERVES AS HOME BASE FOR THE BILL T. JONES/ARNIE ZANE DANCE COMPANY, PROVIDES AN EXTENSIVE RANGE OF PARTICIPATORY PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE, AND SUPPORTS THE CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF ARTISTS. WITH OUR AUDIENCE, WE SEEK TO BECOME A PLACE FOR DANCE THAT IS VITAL TO THE FABRIC OF SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE IN NEW YORK, AMERICA, AND BEYOND.

Income
$10.4 million
Spending
$8.9 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
8.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
180
Volunteers
21
Highest pay
$330,700, exec. dir./ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 56% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 13% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    21 of 23 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $7.2 million spent. NEW YORK LIVE ARTS HAD A CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED 2024-25 SEASON INCLUDING SIX 2024 BESSIE AWARD NOMINATIONS AMONG THREE COMMISSIONED ARTISTS AND TWO 2025 BESSIE AWARD NOMINATIONS. LIVE ARTS PRODUCED THIRTEEN FULLY PRODUCED PRESENTATIONS, INCLUDING RCA, LIVE FEED, AND LIVE ARTERY FESTIVAL THAT BROUGHT IN AN AUDIENCE OF NEARLY 6,912 TO LIVE ARTS. THE BILL T. JONES/ARNIE ZANE DANCE COMPANY TOURED NATIONALLY, BRINGING ITS WORK TO APPROXIMATELY 6,702 AUDIENCE MEMBERS. DURING THE COMPANY'S 43RD YEAR, THEY HAD 8 PERFORMANCES IN NEW YORK CITY. REMOUNTING THE ICONIC WORK STILL/HERE AT BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC (BAM), MARKING ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY, AS WELL AS PREMIERING A NEW WORK FOR THE HOME SEASON AT NEW YORK LIVE ARTS. BILL T. JONES WAS COMMISSIONED TO CREATE A SOLO FOR THE WHITNEY ART MUSEUM'S EDGES OF AILEY EXHIBIT, WHERE HE HAD 2 SOLD-OUT SHOWS FOR HIS WORLD PREMIER OF MEMORY PIECE: MR. AILEY, ALVIN. THE UN-AILEY? WE ALSO REMOUNTED THE WORK FOR THE COMPANY'S HOME SEASON IN MAY 2025.NEW YORK LIVE ARTS CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW WORK OF ITS SEVENTH RESIDENT COMMISSIONED ARTIST, MIGUEL GUITERREZ, AND HIS WORK, SUPER NOTHING, WHICH PREMIERED IN JANUARY 2025. LIVE ARTS ANNOUNCED JOANNA KOTZE AS THE EIGHTH RESIDENT COMMISSIONED ARTIST FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 26-27 AND WILL SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR NEW WORK. LIVE ARTS ALSO COMMISSIONED NEW WORK FROM SOME OF THE MOST FORWARD-THINKING INDEPENDENT ARTISTS OF OUR TIME IN OUR THEATRE AND IN NYC: INCLUDING WALLY CARDONA, LISA FAGAN & LENA ENGLESTEIN, MILKA DJORDEVICH AND MAKINI (JUMATATU POE). THE LIVE FEED RESIDENCY PROGRAM IS A LABORATORY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW COMMISSIONED WORK DIRECTED TO OUR THEATER. EMERGING AND MID-CAREER ARTISTS SELECTED BY THE LIVE ARTS CURATORIAL STAFF ARE OFFERED 140 HOURS OF REHEARSAL TIME OVER TWO YEARS, FOLLOWED BY MODERATED DISCUSSIONS IN THE FIRST YEAR. IN THE SECOND YEAR, WE PREMIER THEIR NEWLY CREATED PERFORMANCE PIECE IN OUR THEATER. ALONG WITH PERFORMANCE FEES, EACH COMMISSIONED ARTIST ENJOYED A WEEK-LONG TECHNICAL RESIDENCY IN NEW YORK LIVE ARTS' THEATER, AN UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITY TO REFINE A WORK FOR THE STAGE. NEW YORK LIVE ARTS SERVED AS AN ARTISTIC HOME TO MORE THAN 200 EMERGING AND MID-CAREER ARTISTS. THE EMERGING ARTIST PROGRAM, FRESH TRACKS SUPPORTED FIVE NEW ARTISTS WITH A YEAR OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, LED BY ARTISTIC ADVISOR JULIANA MAY, AND PRODUCING A NEW WORK ON A SHARED EVENING OF FOUR PERFORMANCES OF: MAXI HAWKEYE, KASHIA KANCEY, JADE MANN, AYO OHS.THE BILL CHATS PROGRAM, WHERE WE CONTINUED TO INVESTIGATE ISSUES OF OUR TIME, THIS YEAR WITH BILL T. JONES IN CONVERSATION WITH JUDITH BUTLER AND ANNE DEVEARE SMITH. THE MOTHERBOARD SUITE, CREATED BY SAUL WILLIAMS AND BILL T. JONES, CONTINUED ITS TOURING TO THE FORD IN LOS ANGELES, CA, WITH ONE PERFORMANCE TO APPROXIMATELY 700 AUDIENCE MEMBERS. IN ITS 14TH YEAR, THE LIVE ARTERY FESTIVAL PRESENTED SEVEN FULLY PRODUCED PRODUCTIONS: JULIA ANTINOZZI, LESLIE CUYJET, MILKA DJORDJEVICH, JESSIE FACTOR, MIGUEL GUTIERREZ, FAUSTIN LINYEKULA, SAMARA SARAI, STACY SPENCE, AND ZOE|JUNIPER. THERE WERE ALSO 8 STUDIO SHOWINGS OF EXCERPTS AND WORK-IN-PROGRESS NEW WORKS FROM OUR RESIDENCY ARTISTS AND CURATED GUESTS, INCLUDING BILL T. JONES/ARNIE ZANE COMPANY, KYLE ABRAHAM AND ABRAHAM IN MOTION (AIM), SHAMEL PITTS|TRIBE, CYNTHIA OLIVER, JOSEPH KECKLER, OGEMDI UDE, RODERICK GEORGE, AND MICHAEL SAKAMONTO WITH DJ SPOOKY. KAYLA FARRISH, GABRIELA CARNIERO DA CUNHA, HEATHER KRAVIS, JANANI BALUSBRAMANIAN, AND TERE O'CONNOR. THIS ALLOWED PRESENTERS TO LISTEN TO ARTIST PITCHES AND ARTISTS TO MEET PRESENTERS IN A RELAXED SETTING TO BUILD TOURS, COMMISSIONS, ETC. LIVE ARTS CONTINUES TO PARTNER WITH L'ALLIANCE NEW YORK | CROSSING THE LINE AND TOGETHER, WE CO-PRESENTED THREE INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS IN FALL 2024: NADIA BEUGR, LENIO KAKLEA, AND ISMEL MOUARAKI.LIVE ARTS ALSO CONTINUES TO SUPPORT VISUAL ARTISTS BY EXHIBITING THEIR WORK ON THE FORD FOUNDATION LIVE GALLERY. THE 2024-2025 ARTIST WAS ISAIAH GARDNER. ADDITIONALLY, WE CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE NEW YORK FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS IMMIGRANT ARTIST PROGRAM, THE INSTALLATION IN/BETWEEN, WHEREIN BETWEEN 20-25 IMMIGRANT ARTISTS SHOW THEIR WORK ON THE FORD FOUNDATION LIVE ARTS GALLERY WALL IN THE SPRING. WE CLOSED OUR FY25 SEASON WITH OUR ANNUAL PRIDE: THE HOUSE PARTY, INCLUDING LIVE PERFORMANCES, BUILDING-WIDE AND ON THE SIDEWALK. PERFORMERS INCLUDED HOUSES LEGENDS OF DRAG, YAS MAMA, BODY HACK, CASA DIVA, HOUSE OF TRANSCENDENCE, RAGGA, PAPI JUICE, SWITCH N PLAY, BUBBLE T, AND DOUBLE DUTCH DREAMZ JUMPING FOR JUSTICE, REPRESENTED BY 33 INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS. WE HOSTED A QUEER MARKETPLACE IN OUR LOBBY WITH EIGHT QUEER VENDORS, HOSTED BY UNTITLED AND OUR VERY OWN TYLER ASHLEY, THE DAUPHINE. THE EVENT TOOK PLACE ALONGSIDE A FORD FOUNDATION LIVE GALLERY LOBBY EXHIBITION FEATURING 8 ARTISTS, CO-PRESENTED WITH AND CURATED BY QUEER I ART AND LITE BRITE NEON STUDIO THAT WAS ON VIEW JUNE-SEPTEMBER.NEW YORK LIVE ARTS' LIVE CORE PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDE ARTISTS WITH THE TOOLS, SUPPORT, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THEY NEED TO TRULY EXCEL. THE PROGRAM DRAWS ON THE RESOURCES OF THE INSTITUTION TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ARTISTS TO CONNECT WITH LARGER AUDIENCES, RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT THEIR WORK, AND AUGMENT THE VISIBILITY OF DANCE IN NEW YORK. ENROLLMENT WITH AN AFFORDABLE $100 FOR A FULL YEAR OF UNLIMITED ACCESS TO MARKETING SERVICES, INCLUSION IN LIVE ARTS' E-BLASTS AND PRINT PROGRAMS, DEVELOPMENT AND FUNDRAISING GUIDANCE, TICKET DISCOUNTS, AND ACCESS TO MASTERCLASSES AND WORKSHOPS. NEW YORK LIVE ARTS HAD AN ONGOING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE JAMES BALDWIN SCHOOL FOR EXPEDITIONARY LEARNING, FOCUSED ON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED SCHOOL AS UNRESPONSIVE TO THEIR NEEDS AS INDIVIDUALS. DESIGNED TO BROADEN THE ARTISTIC EXPERIENCE AND PROVIDE TWO FULL SEMESTERS OF COURSE WORK, A CLASS OF SIX TO EIGHT STUDENTS WORKED WITH A TEACHING ARTIST RECRUITED FROM OUR BILL T. JONES/ARNIE ZANE ALUMNI TO DEVELOP PERSONAL OR

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1966.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.