About BAC
BAC is the realization of a long-held vision by Founder and Artistic Director Mikhail Baryshnikov to build an arts center in New York City that serves as a gathering place for artists from all disciplines. BAC’s opening in 2005 heralded the launch of this mission, establishing a thriving creative space for artists from around the world. Located in the Hudson Yards neighborhood of Manhattan, BAC comprises a total of 20,000 square feet, including the 238-seat Jerome Robbins Theater, the Howard Gilman Performance Space, and four column-free studios. BAC serves approximately 700 artists and up to 22,000 audience members annually through presentations and artist residencies.
BAC Presents
BAC Presents is a series of innovative performances by local and international dance, theater, music, and multimedia artists. BAC's spring season runs January through June, and the fall season runs September through December, with performances held in the Jerome Robbins Theater, Howard Gilman Performance Space, and the studios. BAC is dedicated to building audiences for the arts by presenting contemporary work at affordable ticket prices.
BAC Residencies
Supporting artists is central to BAC's mission. BAC hosts up to 20 residencies a year, providing dance, theater, music, and multimedia artists with the space and resources to research and develop new projects and collaborations. Artists are free to explore their creative endeavors, with BAC staff available to provide administrative and technical support.
BAC After School
BAC After School is a free arts education program for students from New York City public high schools. Students nominated by teachers from partner schools engage in production workshops in BAC’s theater spaces, and write critical responses to performances they attend at BAC and other venues such as Danspace Project, New York Live Arts, HERE Arts Center, and The Public Theater.
BAC Rentals
Through its rental program, BAC serves as an important resource for the artistic community by helping to meet the need for affordable rehearsal space in New York City. BAC offers subsidized rehearsal rentals to nonprofit dance companies starting at $10 per hour through New York State Council on the Arts and Dance/NYC's New York City Dance Rehearsal Space Subsidy Program, made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. BAC also provides reduced rate rentals to nonprofit dance, theater, music, and multimedia artists and companies.
Photos: Maria Baranova, Richard Beenen, Stephanie Berger, Anna Lee Campbell