The Big Give - December 8, 2026
The Big Give is IndieSpace's annual event, celebrating indie artists where we award grants to indie performing arts companies, fiscally sponsored collectives/productions, and venues.
We have created this joyous event so you can reconnect and socialize with your fellow indie artists, celebrate and honor the amazing work, artistry, and love in the indie theater and performing arts community, AND so we can distribute $1,000 Pay Your People grants!
The in-person celebration will take place at Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square S, New York, NY 10012.
The virtual celebration will take place via Zoom.
Please note: There is additional logistics information about The Big Give below the Pay Your People section!
Pay Your People Grants
The Pay Your People Grant provides $1,000 for NYC-based indie performing arts organizations to compensate historically marginalized artists or leadership.
This grant is awarded by lottery live at The Big Give on December 8.
To be eligible for this grant, you must be a NYC-based indie performing arts company, fiscally sponsored collective/production, or indie performing arts venue (venues with 99 seats or less). And you must commit to using the grant to pay historically marginalized artists or leaders who bring an underrepresented perspective to our community through race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, economic disadvantage or refugee/immigration status.
The Pay Your People Grant is to do just that – pay the people on your team that make the work possible.
Application Cycle
October 16 - Application Opens at 12:00am
November 15 - Application Closes at 11:59pm
November 16-23 - Applications are reviewed by the IndieSpace staff and Board for eligibility only
November 23 - Applicants are notified of their application status and eligibility. Please note your eligibility confirmation determines if you will be entered into the Pay Your People lottery, and is not an award notification. If you do not receive an email regarding your eligibility by November 24, please contact us at hello@indiespace.org.
December 8 - THE BIG GIVE event at the Judson Memorial Church & on Zoom! Eligible applicants will be entered into the lottery and recipients will be selected live.
Who Is Eligible?
You are eligible if:
You or someone from your organization has RSVPed to attend The Big Give, in-person or on Zoom.
You are a NYC-based indie performing arts company, fiscally sponsored collective/production, OR indie performing arts venue (venues with 99 seats or less).
You can commit to using the grant to pay historically marginalized artists or leaders who bring an underrepresented perspective to our community through race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, economic disadvantage or refugee/immigration status.
You are planning to produce at least one show, reading, or workshop in the 12 months following The Big Give (December 2026 to December 2027).
You have a bank account in your organization's name or have a fiscal sponsor to receive funds. Checks will NOT be written to individuals.
You are NOT eligible if:
If you received a Pay Your People Grant in 2025, you ARE NOT eligible to apply for the Pay Your People Grant this year. Organizations/Companies/Collectives can not receive this grant two years in a row. If you received a grant in 2025, you are eligible to apply again for Pay Your People in 2027.
If you are a venue that RECEIVED The Little Venue That Could Grant in 2025 or 2026, you ARE NOT eligible to apply for a Pay Your People Grant this year.
Application Process
To apply for funds, please RSVP for The Big Give before completing the application.
Before submitting your application, please note:
Only one application for the Pay Your People Grant should be filled out per venue/company/collective.
The application will ask you to upload a performance/rehearsal or venue photo to be used in a slideshow at The Big Give event or in marketing materials. By uploading this photo, you give IndieSpace permission to use it in the slideshow at The Big Give, where it may also be captured in the background of photos or video taken that evening to be used in future marketing.
Selection and Payment Process
Eligible applicants will be entered into the live grant drawing that will occur at The Big Give event on December 8.
For those attending in-person, checks will be written and given out that evening; PayPal is also possible, if preferred.
For those who attend the event the event on Zoom, IndieSpace staff will reach out to you and arrange payment either via PayPal, ACH, or check.
Payments will be made to companies, venues, or fiscal sponsors, not directly to individuals.
You must have a bank account set up in the name of the company or venue that is accepting the grant check or be working with a fiscal sponsor that can receive the funds.
YOU MUST ATTEND THE BIG GIVE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THIS GRANT, either in-person or virtually, when the names are pulled to claim and receive one of the $1,000 grants.
You may only represent ONE company at the event. Names will be called three times. If someone is not present to respond, we will pull another organization’s name for that grant. Checks will be cut that night and you’ll be on your way to paying artists and leaders!
Important Notes
We ask questions to determine your eligibility for the lottery. We do not compare applications or review them for merit. Your application should display that you are an actively producing indie venue, company, or collective that can commit to putting the funding towards historically marginalized artists. Feel free to write very short descriptions, or to copy language from other grant proposals.
There is no required reporting for this grant. You may be asked for a testimonial on the impact of this grant at the end of the grant period.
Images From The Big Give 2025
The Big Give - Additional Details
Below is additional information about The Big Give happening on December 8. If you have a question and it’s not answered here, please send us a note at hello@indiespace.org.
You must RSVP for the event so we know how many people will be attending in person or on Zoom.
In-Person Event at Judson Memorial Church
The in-person event will take place at Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South, Manhattan, NY 10012
We do have limited capacity for The Big Give at Judson Memorial Church. If you plan to attend in-person, we encourage you to RSVP as soon as possible.
Virtual Zoom Event
We’re excited to continue to offer a Zoom option for those that cannot join in person.
The Zoom link will be sent in the week before the event.
The Zoom Event will open before the event starts for people to gather, network, and connect.
How to RSVP
Everyone is welcome to join us at The Big Give, regardless of whether you are applying for our grants or not.
You will have the option to participate in The Big Give in whichever way feels the most comfortable, either in person or online.
The order form will only allow you to reserve up to ONE ticket. Please have everyone in your company, family, or party complete their own registration on this Jotform.
Due to the hybrid nature of this event, we can more easily track who will be attending from each location and who will be representing each company/venue. This information is crucial for us to set up the event spaces effectively and will also help streamline our grant-giving process.
While this event is free to attend, we do offer the opportunity to make a donation as you RSVP that will help us cover the cost of this event (food, drinks, staff).
Location For In-Person Event:
Judson Memorial Church
55 Washington Square South,
Manhattan, NY 10012
Google Maps Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/q4NhgWwWQjVbHnNq7
A, C, E, B, D, F, and M trains are 0.2 miles away using the W 4 St. Washington Square MTA Stop
N, Q, R, and W trains are 0.3 miles away using the 8 St-NYU MTA Stop
The 1 Train is 0.3 miles away using the Christopher St-Stonewall MTA Stop
4 and 6 trains are 0.4 miles away using the Astor Place MTA Stop
The L train is 0.6 miles away using the 14 St - Union Sq MTA Stop
Many bus lines that pass near Judson Memorial Church
Accessibility For In-Person Event
The main entrance to the venue is located at 55 Washington Square South through the large double doors. There is one flight of stairs to get to the event space.
ADA Access ONLY: There is a different entrance for ADA and wheelchair access. This entrance will lead to an elevator. Please indicate during the RSVP process if you may require the ADA- and wheelchair-accessible entrance.
The venue has two unisex multi-stall bathrooms and two ADA-accessible bathrooms that are two floors below the event space.
ASL interpretation will be provided for both the in-person and virtual events. ASL Interpretation will be provided by Inclusive Communication Services.
Service animals are allowed in the venue.
Chairs and tables will be set up throughout the venue. This is often an event with standing room. There will be enough chairs to accommodate anyone who would like one. Chairs are armless.
Food and beverages will be served during the in-person event. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options will be available.
COVID-19 Compliance
Masks are optional, though we encourage their use when not eating or drinking.
Please take a Covid test before coming to the in-person event, stay home, and join us on Zoom if you aren't feeling well.
Creating Connection and Space at The Big Give
Being a neighbor and a community member is at the heart of IndieSpace: building connections and creating a space where everyone belongs.
That spirit is at the heart of The Big Give as well. This year’s Big Give is especially meaningful because it takes place just before the opening of IndieSpace Hell’s Kitchen, a new affordable home for New York City’s indie theater and performance community, a soft landing place for artists without an institutional home set to open in early 2027.
This year’s Big Give is a representation that the community is not waiting for IndieSpace to open, the community is opening IndieSpace. We are not building a home and inviting people in later, the space is being created through the people who will use it, and that starts with our community.
Do you have additional questions?
Great! Please send us a note at hello@indiespace.org and we’re happy to answer it!
Images From Prior Events
