In early May, A.R.T./NY released a first-of-its-kind research publication about the state of the New York City theatre field, called Health + Wealth, Empowering Theatremakers Through Data. This is the third in a series of features from Talia Corren and Risa Shoup, A.R.T./NY’s Co-Executive Directors, highlighting key themes from the report. Read the first and second articles in the series for the topline takeaways.

In our third chapter, we explore how access to space has been a pivotal factor in the financial health of organizations coming out of the pandemic period. While those companies that own or hold long-term leases were doubly impacted by the loss of ticket and rental income during the pandemic, our data shows these organizations quickly recovering in the period between 2022 and 2023. As a group, these companies had benefitted from access to the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, receiving relief funds unavailable to companies without their own venues. They subsequently increased their earned revenue, likely through venue rentals in the post-COVID period.