TheTankNyc.org
Title
The Tank - Space for Performing and Visual Arts in NYC
Description
MISSION
The mission of The Tank is to provide a welcoming, creative, collaborative, and affordable environment for artists and activists engaged in the pursuit of new ideas. Through a wide range of low-cost, high-concept arts and public affairs programming, The Tank seeks to cultivate a new generation of audience for live performance, civic discourse, and the work of emerging artists.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TANK
The Tank emerged out of an opportunity to seize New York’s most precious commodity: space. A ground floor storefront with a wall of windows onto 42nd Street and an interior courtyard became available in the heart of Manhattan’s off-Broadway Theater Row. Undesirable for most commercial enterprises, the space was perfect for The Tank’s founders, who had no capital, many obstacles, and an average age of 24. The nine managing partners and curators were directors, writers and visual artists, with backgrounds in the arts ranging from company management to graphic design; their professional experiences outside the arts included carpentry, web design, and political internships.
After thousands of hours of sweat equity, and with the mentorship and support of a local business, The Tank opened its doors on May 31, 2003. It quickly became known by artists and audiences alike as a center for unconventional, dynamic programming, where creativity, community and risk-taking prevailed over money, competition and exclusivity, with affordable tickets never priced higher than $10. Since then, its self-sustaining business model, based on revenue generated through ticket sales, rental income and concession donations, facilitated the repayment of initial loans and enabled the expansion from a working team composed entirely of volunteers to a small paid staff.
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