Open Channels New York Inc Dba Dixon Place

What it reported doing in 2024

In its 38th year, Dixon Place (DP) remained dedicated to the creation, development, and presentation of new original works in the performing and literary arts, inspiring and encouraging artists to take risks, explore new ideas and practices, and accelerate their work to the next level. DPs primary goals are to provide opportunities and resources that allow creators to challenge themselves artistically, develop high quality new work, strengthen their audience base, and further their careers. With programs that provide developmental opportunities for professional performing artists, DP remains one of the only organizations exclusively dedicated to supporting artists from readings and workshop presentations all the way to fully realized productions, making the organization distinctive in the NYC landscape of performing arts presenters. Dixon Place presented approximately 100 theater, dance, music, and literary events from January through December 2024, serving over 200 artists or companies and over 6000 members of the community. The breakdown of programs and artists served are as follows: COMMISSIONING & PRODUCTION PROGRAMSEstablished in 1994, DPs COMMISSIONING & PRODUCTION PROGRAM is the cornerstone of our programming, providing comprehensive support that empowers artists to develop and present courageous new work. Each production receives access to DP facilities for meetings and auditions; artistic fees of $6,000$15,000 per production for writers, directors, designers, choreographers, dramaturges, and performers; a production manager and full technical support, as well as marketing, publicity, and administrative assistance; and a performance run. Artists in the program in 2024 had exclusive use of the mainstage for the fourth straight year, meaning artists could create more extensive scenic elements and not be required to break down daily to make space for our formerly copious nightly programming. In 2024, DP commissioned and/or co-produced, and presented the following productions: Ernies Secret Life, an episodic odyssey, fusing ever-changing puppetry stagecraft with humor, music, and a raw understanding of our profound collective reality by Renee Philippi/Joe Phillips of Concrete Temple Theatre, presented in the mainstage 1/4/24 - 1/27/24Naughty Bits, Sara Julis autobiographical solo dance-play, which was co-produced by American Dance Festival, had its NYC premiere at DP on 3/14/24 - 3/16/24. Kayfabe, Josh Rices puppet wrestling entertainment spectacular, which was commissioned for development and premiered at DP on 5/30/24 - 6/7/24. Kayfabe went to the Chicago International Puppet Festival in February 2025.Harlem Doll Palace, a DP commission written by Alva Rogers and directed by Ash Winkfield, combined performance and puppetry to tell the story of Aunt Len and her beloved dolls who struggle to keep her protected from a deteriorating outside real world. Presented in the Mainstage Theater 11/13/24 - 11/17/24HOT FESTIVALThe oldest annual LGBTQIA+ festival in the world, HOT has pioneered queer arts and culture in NYC for over 30 years. This festival offers an artistic haven for so many underrepresented voices in our community and serves as a model for other LGBTQIA+ festivals. An extension of Pride, the HOT Festival traditionally takes place throughout the entire month of July, featuring theater, dance, spoken word, music, comedy, and hybrid performance. 2024 marked the HOT Festivals 33rd anniversary. DANCE BLOC NYC FESTIVAL2024 also saw the fourth year of the DANCE BLOC NYC FESTIVAL, DPs inaugural dance festival, taking place over three days with six different programs, and featuring new works by 21 dance companies on the themes of EFFECT, EMERGE, and EVOLVE.SUBSIDIZED RENTAL PROGRAMDPs SUBSIDIZED RENTAL PROGRAM serves theater and dance companies who need affordable space to independently showcase their new work, a true rarity in New York, especially for artists and audiences with mobility challenges. Providing full front and b

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
• Program expense ratio: 64.4%; rating input score 64
• Fundraising efficiency: $2.26 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 75%; rating input score 75; 20th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 6 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 75
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Fail
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -83.6%; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 5.57; rating input score 81; 81st percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.14; rating input score 23; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 10.6%; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -4.8% per year; rating input score 0; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -3.5% per year; rating input score 0; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -2.4% per year; rating input score 0; 16th percentile among comparable filings