IndieSpace Programs
Equity
All of our funding and programs are available to everyone, and prioritize historically excluded artists, such as Global Majority (BIPOC), d/Deaf, disabled, transgender/gender non-conforming/non-binary, and immigrant artists. Some of our funding programs use a weighted lottery system* to achieve this prioritization. Others direct the use of funds towards historically excluded artists that work within various institutions.
Funding
IndieSpace provides radically transparent, equitable, and responsive funding to individual artists, small companies, and indie venues through a variety of available grants. Some of our grants are annual and others are open year round. If a grant is currently open, there will be a button to apply right below it. If we know when to expect the next round, that will also be noted.
Grants to Individual Indie Theater Artists
Mental Health Grants
The IndieSpace Mental Health grant awards individual artists $500 grants to use toward therapy, medication, meditation classes, and any other mental health-related costs. It is our hope that by providing this financial resource, we can help remove barriers that prevent artists from seeking and receiving the care, support, and information they need to care for their mental health.
Milk and Eggs (Cost of Living) Micro Grant for Indie Theater Artists
The Milk and Eggs Grant are $250 micro grants for indie theater makers to use toward things like groceries, housing, or any bills that have increased recently due to inflation.
The United States Social Security Administration predicted an 8.7% increase in the cost of living for 2023. The $250 grant was based on approximately two months of the increase in Social Security benefits for individuals. While $250 may not sound like a lot to some, it can make a difference in the burden of the increased cost of living for many members in our indie theater community. This micro grant is currently on hold with the slowing of inflation, but IndieSpace staff is watching closely to see if it will need to be reopened due to evolving conditions.
AAPI Transportation Fund
With a 361% increase in crime against AAPI community members, IndieSpace partnered with AAPAC to provide transportation stipends for artists to get to and from rehearsals and performances safely. Applications for these $250 small stipends for safety are open on an ongoing basis, until the need decreases or funds are no longer available. If you are a member of the AAPI community and are in need of transportation support, please email IndieSpace Executive Director Randi Berry at randi@indiespace.org.
Cultural Solidarity Fund
The Cultural Solidarity Fund was established directly in response to COVID-19, in partnership with Leimay and 17 other cultural organizations, providing micro grants of $500 to artists and cultural workers. Thus far, more than $1M has been granted through the Cultural Solidarity Fund.
The Cultural Solidarity Fund is no longer accepting applications. We are working to sunset this fund having given every applicant in need support. The work of the CSF organizers continues with efforts focused on a Safety Net for artists and cultural workers.
Grants to Indie Theater Companies and Venues
The Little Venue That Could
The Little Venue That Could program, in partnership with the Howard Gilman Foundation, grants indie venues $10,000 per year, for two consecutive fiscal years, and can be used to pay staff, rent, utilities, debt, or whatever the venue deems appropriate to help them keep their doors open and thrive. A minimum of 10 grants, to 10 venues, are given. Each grantee will also be automatically registered in IndieSpace’s FREE Advisory and Consulting program, providing access to experts and information throughout the lifetime of their space operation. The cohort of the first 13 venues was selected in July of 2023. IndieSpace is hoping to open a new application round for The Little Venue That Could grants in summer 2025.
The Big Give and Pay Your People Grants
Pay Your People Grants are $1,000 grants for NYC-based indie theater companies/collectives and venues to pay historically excluded artists or leadership to work in, administrate, or perform in their spaces and/or productions. For venues, you can use these funds to subsidize a rental from an artist in your venue or to pay performers or administration directly.
The Pay Your People Grant is to do just that – pay the people on your team that make the work possible.
We award these grants each year at The Big Give. We have created this joyous event so you can reconnect and socialize with your fellow indie theater makers, celebrate and honor the amazing work, artistry, and love in the indie theater community, AND so we can distribute $1,000 grants! We really hope you can join us!
The Big Give 2025 will take place on Thursday, December 4.
The 2025 Pay Your People Grant Application will open in the fall.
Emergency Funds and No Interest Loans
Artists and organizations can sometimes find themselves in an urgent situation outside their control - a theft, injury, or natural disaster has impacted their ability to perform or to host performances.
In times like these, Emergency Funds are available via a brief application online, with some supplemental materials delivered via email. A committee within the Board of Directors reviews applications and aims to reply and deliver a check, if approved, within 48 hours.
Real Estate
IndieSpace is focused on addressing systemic inequities in real estate ownership and operation. We work in various ways to create affordable, long term solutions for artists and their real estate.
Consulting and Advising Program
We work with theaters facing a real estate challenge, transition, or opportunity. Often, there are organizations who are in jeopardy of losing leased space and/or have a desire to expand to accommodate their programming. We provide strategic planning, space identification, lease negotiation, the creation of partnerships to efficiently share space, and ongoing support when issues arise with a landlord.
Through this program, IndieSpace has helped renegotiate seven leases, helped to find and lease 21 new spaces, managed the purchase of a new theatrical home for four different indie theater companies (with another one on the way), and supported more than 100 nonprofit organizations.
West Village Rehearsal Co-Op
We partner with Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, HERE, and New Ohio Theatre to provide a low-cost rehearsal space for the indie theater community at the West Village Rehearsal Co-Op.
IndieSpace operates the space six months out of the year and programs in scheduling windows throughout the year. We offer use of the space during our allocated time to our community for no more than $10/hour.
Stay tuned for future releases of availability through our email newsletter, or follow IndieSpace on Facebook or Instagram.
IndieSpace Hell’s Kitchen
IndieSpace Hell’s Kitchen is in development and will be a 5,500-square-foot, ground-floor multi-use space designed to serve the indie theater community at 508 West 49th Street and 10th Avenue. Located just steps from the Theater District and adjacent to a new public park, this space will be a long-overdue home for itinerant artists—one that is welcoming, high-quality, accessible, and, most importantly, affordable. With three fully equipped rehearsal spaces, including one that can accommodate small performances, a flexible meeting and co-working area, two private Zoom/phone rooms, and a large communal lounge and kitchen, IndieSpace Hell’s Kitchen is built to meet the needs of artists who too often lack a stable place to gather, create, and thrive. Whether rehearsing a new work, hosting a production meeting, or simply sharing a meal with fellow artists, this space will be a hub for independent theater-makers to build community, collaborate, and sustain their craft in the heart of New York City.
Community Resources and Connections
We created the Community Resources program to offset expenses for operational services and support that are often out of reach for small budget organizations and individuals. We do this work through direct access to free or low-cost services, workshops, and other community-building activities.
Our Community Connections activities are just that - a way for IndieSpace to bring our community together.
Professional Development
We provide professional development workshops and access to information to help our artists grow. We offer in-person and online sessions on grant writing, budgeting, personal finance, public relations, and more. We have created partnerships with organizations like The Field and Pentacle to offer reduced cost fiscal sponsorship to artists who work outside of the not-for-profit structure. We have facilitated connections between artists and attorneys and have coached artists through the decision making process regarding fiscal sponsorship versus 501c3.
Community Resources Lottery
IndieSpace holds an annual Community Resources Lottery to provide an opportunity for indie artists, companies, venues, and productions to receive free resources from trusted community partners. The 2025 Community Resources Lottery will open in the late spring/early summer.
Community Connections
The Community Connections program ensures that indie artists have the opportunity to: interact with each other through the IndieSpace co-work hub, attend funder meetings through the Seat at the Table initiative, and receive mentorship and community support during our Growing Small Budget Orgs calls.
IndieSpace Search
We are developing a database to fill the loss of the closing of Fractured Atlas’ SpaceFinder. IndieSpace Search will allow theaters to list their venues, provide photos and specifications and will be a place for artists to search for rehearsal and performance space.
Growing Small Budget Organizations
In connection with Culture@3, IndieSpace hosts FREE monthly “Growing Small Budget Organizations'' calls as a service to the community to discuss important topics for small organizations like budgeting, fundraising, building you board.
This group is geared towards artists, companies, and venues operating with smaller budgets (under $250,000). It focuses on sharing transparent tips and information to support and connect with one another. These are open conversations! Topic ideas and questions are crowd-sourced from the room.
Coworking
IndieSpace hosts monthly coworking days and other social gathering opportunities for indie artists to combat social isolation and to encourage networking within the community.
Discord Server
IndieSpace’s Discord server provides an online resource for the indie community to connect and communicate.
This is an active space where artists connect, share resources like grants and job opportunities, and announce our general events. Please click here to access our Discord Explainer, where we explain step-by-step how to join Discord and the Indie Theater Discord Server.
Give & Gain Market
These one-off events are where artists gather to list two-to-five services or things they need and two-to-five skills or items they can offer in exchange, and can make connections in real time.
The IndieSpace Give & Gain Market represents a shift toward an alternative economy rooted in creativity, collaboration, and mutual support.
Resource Guide for Theater Artists
Stress, crisis, and insecurity can affect not only our wellbeing, but our ability to fulfill our potential as artists and engage in the vital creative work that allows our community to thrive. As part of our mission to support independent theater artists, IndieSpace created a resource guide to help our community find assistance with difficulties they may face outside their work.
Topics include: Housing and Home Utilities, Food Insecurity, Healthcare, Dental, and Vision, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Legal Assistance – Multiple Topics, Mutual Aid Groups, Mental Health, Assistance for Those Experiencing Violence and Abuse, Safe and Affordable Transportation, Resources for Immigrants and Undocumented Individuals, and List of Emergency Funds Available to Theater Artists.
View the entire Resource Guide for Theater Artists here.
Advocacy
IndieSpace advocates for equitable funding, a long-term safety net for arts workers, direct cash for artists, Guaranteed Income, changes to current real estate policies that aren’t artist friendly, and more. We work with individuals, mutual aid networks, other service organizations, foundations, city and state governments to ensure that individual artists, small budget organizations, and indie venues are being served and represented in a fair and equitable way with funding and real estate.
Sample Advocacy efforts:
A Seat at the Table: IndieSpace invites small budget arts organizations to join them in their meetings with funders. It’s an opportunity for an artist or individual at a smaller organization to introduce themselves, build relationships, see an example of how these meetings go, and hear what type of questions the funders ask.
Safety Net Coalition: IndieSpace is helping steer the Safety Net Coalition, a large group of service organizations, foundation partners, cultural workers and organizations who are creating an infrastructure for disaster response and to build a brains trust to address ongoing systemic gaps for artists and workers i.e. - portable benefits, healthcare, guaranteed income etc.
Co-Ops and Community Land Trusts: IndieSpace believes strongly in the need for new models that are community centered and led. Co-Ops and Community Land Trusts are two ways forward that IndieSpace advocates for.
Common Application Group: IndieSpace is a member of the Common Application committee, a subcommittee of New York Grantmakers in the Arts, who are working to create a common application for foundations in NYC.
Real Estate: IndieSpace works with Community Boards, developers, the City Council, the Dept of Cultural Affairs, and more to be sure that artists are secured in their real estate, are properly represented in new developments, and are considered in changes to zoning, etc.
Guaranteed Income: IndieSpace believes that guaranteed income is a necessary intervention for our field. IndieSpace participated in working groups with Creatives Rebuild NY and is part of the NYC Cash Alliance.
Budget Advocacy: IndieSpace signs on to efforts led by groups of service organizations like NY4CA, Dance/NYC, ART/NY to advocate for larger budget allocations from the City and State.
Our Legacy: The Indie Theater Fund
We can only move forward by acknowledging and honoring our history. The Indie Theater Fund supported our beloved indie community under the name The LIT Fund and then The Indie Theater Fund for over a decade. We are excited about the potential to continue the incredible work of the Fund in this new form, allowing us to grow our capacity and ability to serve. Upon merging with IndieSpace in 2022, all Indie Theater Fund programs are now home at IndieSpace.
As we grow the organization, indie theater artists will be supported with funding, professional growth opportunities, and space operation. Alongside indie artists throughout their careers - “the full 360” - we will continue to assist organizations and individuals, financially and otherwise, who create independent theater in New York City and to help our community grow even stronger.
Footnote
*What is a weighted lottery?
In alignment with our values of non-merit based grant making and access for everyone, IndieSpace uses a lottery system for a majority of our funding programs. At times, a weighted system is implemented for organizations or artists that meet certain criteria that have been prioritized for a specific grant program, for example, geography, demography, need, etc. Regardless of the weights distributed per application, all eligible applicants will be entered into the lottery. Additional weight in a lottery does not guarantee any one specific applicant or prioritized group will be pulled, it just increases the chances of being pulled. We use the Random Picker software to run our grant lotteries. Grant recipients will be determined by the lottery software and not IndieSpace staff.
