MAKING A PERMANENT HOME FOR WILD PROJECT

ROOTED IN THE LES

On October 31, 2025 wild project officially purchased its building —our beloved 89-seat theater and gallery, a cultural home for independent artists and our East Village community. This milestone marks the triumphant completion of our Root Us in the LES capital campaign, a five-year journey defined by perseverance, resilience, and a belief that saving this theater was worth every challenge. It was a campaign to forever lay the foundation for the next generation of artists. We’re inspired by New York’s standing in history as a cultural beacon and incubator. Through the changes, turmoil and resilience that our community has faced, amidst the Covid-19 shutdown and the ongoing process of recovery, our mission to serve LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC artists of New York City remained.

We received $2.475million in State and Federal grants and $750,000 from Foundation resources. The purchase of the building also includes the air rights, making the potential for a future performing arts center a strong possibility.

For more information or to contribute, please contact Ana Mari de Quesada at adequesada@thewildproject.org

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Our roots are now firmly planted—but growth requires care. Rooted in the LES is our ongoing effort to ensure stability and long-term sustainability. While the purchase is complete, we now face the responsibility of a significant mortgage and the everyday costs of maintaining a vibrant cultural home.

As we enter into ownership of our home, our commitment remains clear. To continue to provide free and affordable space to historically underrepresented artists. To continue our Lights Up on Theater education program. To keep community traditions like our annual Halloween Block Party.

Support the Campaign

wild project will continue to fundraise to maintain the long-term sustainability of its mortgage and operations

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Why you should support the campaign

Many of us know the story. Over the past twenty years, many small venues have been sold, forced to close, or just couldn’t keep up with the rising cost of rent, forever changing the landscape we once knew. Many of our favorite ‘downtown’ spaces have been lost. New York has always been a place where new artists could develop their work and thrive in a supportive environment. wild project remains committed to ensuring that NYC remains a city where emerging, independent, underrepresented, downtown artists have a home – to work, develop, play, show their work, and launch careers.

Our inaugural MainStage production, F*ck7thGrade, a queer musical memoir with songs written and performed by Jill Sobule, book by Liza Birkenmeier, and directed by Lisa Peterson, which debuted in October 2022 received a 2023 Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Musical! We’re thrilled to announce that F*ck7thGrade will return for an annual residency beginning in 2024!

Over the years we’ve helped build a fellowship of artists that includes Cyrus Aaron, Heather Litteer, Manning Jordan, activist Cecilia Gentili, Angela Di Carlo, Kim Katzberg, and we’re proud to be the home to Resident Companies, Clubbed Thumb, Fresh Fruit Festival, Thirdwing, and FRIGID New York. We’re working to solidify our home in the heart of the East Village.

Our Work in the Community

In 2023 we introduced the Lights Up on Theater Program a community partnership with the Educational Alliance that will bring theater education workshops to local 5th Grade students in July and August. We believe that supporting future dreams will make theater’s days ahead stronger. In the fall, we’re launching Artists Writes a brand new initiative in partnership with the Osborne Association that will bring arts workshops to persons returning from incarceration.

Work with the Artists

Wild Project, 2021 Wild Culture program reel
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