Chelsea Factory in New York City

Helping artists and the nearby community reimagine the future and revitalize following the pandemic is Chelsea Factory's core mission – and one that we share at First Republic. We are proud to support this innovative new venture through our First Republic Foundation, which was launched in early 2022 to invest in entrepreneurial nonprofit organizations, initiatives and ideas that help our communities thrive.

“Over the past two years, many artists have left New York City, and many cultural and community venues closed their doors. We founded Chelsea Factory to be an entrepreneurial approach to accelerate post-pandemic recovery for these groups. Without reliance on box office or individual patron programs, artists and partners can pursue ambitious ideas with financial and creative freedom,” said Chelsea Factory Founder and Board Chair Jim Herbert, who is also the Founder, Chairman and Co-CEO of First Republic Bank.

Located at 547 West 26th Street in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, Chelsea Factory previously served as the home for critically acclaimed dance company Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet and world-renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz. Chelsea Factory will host artists and community groups, as well as present vibrant performances and programs curated in partnership with diverse and dynamic New York cultural organizations. This non-profit organization’s mission and programming emphasize supporting and creating opportunity for historically excluded talent.

The first cohort of 2021-2022 resident artists will include composer Troy Anthony; dancer/choreographer Hope Boykin; contemporary performance company GALLIM; and filmmaker Luis G. Santos, among others. Performance and programmatic partnerships with prolific organizations such as Harlem Stage, National Black Theater, and The Joyce Theater will begin January 2022.

You can learn more about this innovative new project by visiting chelseafactory.org.