The Baryshnikov Dance Foundation (BDF), incorporated in 1979 by Mikhail Baryshnikov, was established to provide support to artists and foster their creativity and collaboration. In 2001, the Foundation began formulating plans to construct a permanent home to serve as a creative laboratory, meeting place, and performance space for multidisciplinary artists from around the world. In November 2005, BDF moved into the Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC), located in the new 37 ARTS complex at 450 West 37th Street in New York City. It presently owns the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors of 37 ARTS, a total of 14,000 square feet of space, including column-free studios, a studio theater, and office space. Core activities include artist residencies, student fellowships, commissions of new works, and arts presentations. The organization's next phase of growth will be acquisition of a 299-seat theater in the 37 ARTS building, which will enable BAC to expand artistic and public programs.

The mission of the Baryshnikov Dance Foundation (BDF) is to foster an interest in the arts; to encourage the development of performers, choreographers, directors, writers, composers and designers; and to advance their collaboration.

BAC Artist Residencies provide artists with time, space, and resources to research, experiment, and develop a proposed independent project or collaboration. Artists are invited to spend an average of 3-5 weeks at the Center, during which time they are free to pursue their creative agenda with administrative and technical support provided by Foundation staff. Residencies often culminate in a work-in-progress showing.

The Student Fellowships program supports emerging artists as they make the transition from university life to professional life. These young artists receive time, space, and financial assistance to work on projects with the support of an artistic mentor. Fellows have the opportunity to build relationships with one another, as well as build professional networks with more seasoned artists and arts professionals who can help them as their careers evolve.

The Fund for New Work builds on Baryshnikov's long history of commissioning new work. The focus of this program is commissioning artists to create interdisciplinary performance pieces that will be fully staged with touring potential. Artists are afforded studio space and receive commissioning fees provided by the Fund.

The above programs converged in 2006 with Hell's Kitchen Dance, a company that was formed to showcase the work of artists supported by the Foundation's programs. Baryshnikov and an ensemble of young dancers, mostly student fellows from The Juilliard School and NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, toured internationally, performing world premieres of work created at the Center. In summer 2007, the company embarked on a second international tour, beginning with a run of performances at BAC. Hell's Kitchen Dance has provided a unique opportunity for young choreographers and dancers who are at a critical juncture in their careers, while exposing audiences to new work and fresh talent.

An important part of BDF's efforts is to establish a creative community that promotes research, learning, and the exchange of ideas. BAC Lectures, Exhibitions, and Workshops is an educational outreach program that offers workshops and lecture-demonstrations for artists.

In addition to serving artists, BDF is committed to building audiences for presentations by world-class artists in an intimate, informal setting. Public programming includes The Movado Hour, a free series of one-hour long chamber music concerts presented in a salon setting. BDF Presents is a performance series designed to bring to the stage innovative, contemporary work of choreographers and other artists with a distinctive voice.

During its first two years of operation, BDF's primary focus has been to launch and establish core programming. Artist-centered programs, including residencies, student fellowships, and commissions of new work, contribute to artists' creative development and professional advancement by providing the necessary support, resources, and opportunities to experiment, create, collaborate, and showcase their work. In addition to serving artists, BDF is committed to building audiences for contemporary, innovative work. Public programs feature work created at BAC, as well as presentations by world-class, multidisciplinary artists from around the world.

Since BAC opened its doors, BDF has provided 16 residencies, supported two artists-in-residence, worked with 35 emerging artists through its fellowship program, commissioned three new dances, toured a dance company (Hell's Kitchen Dance), produced a free chamber music series, presented two international arts festivals, co-produced a free jazz concert with live radio broadcast, hosted a photography exhibit, and offered numerous free workshops to artists. To date, BDF programs have served more than 350 artists, and an estimated 8,000 audience members have visited BAC.

United States

New York

450 West 37th Street, Suite 501

NEW YORK, NY 10018

Phone: (646) 731-3221

www.baryshnikovdancefoundation.org

EIN: 13-3031485