At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when New York City’s performing arts sector faced one of the greatest economic fallouts in decades, Chelsea Factory Founder and Board Chair Jim Herbert envisioned an organization that could quickly and meaningfully respond to the needs of a wide range of artists and community partners.
At the start of 2022, Chelsea Factory opened our doors to do just that. Chelsea Factory launched as a pop-up project that would responsively support our partners as a non-competitive resource.
Over an initial five-year timeline, Chelsea Factory occupies a 14,000-square-foot industrial landmarked building in the heart of Manhattan. With two possible performance venues, including a 160-seat black box theater and a flexible multi-use space, Chelsea Factory welcomes artists, organizations and community members for residencies, classes, performances, workshops and public and private events.
Through their collaborative partnerships, Chelsea Factory aims to uplift an inclusive and sustainable arts sector that will outlast the organization’s physical infrastructure.