Administrative Support Program

Pentacle’s Administrative Support Program (ASP) provides direct administrative services for artists looking to build more sustainable organizational operations under the guidance of Pentacle and alongside a cohort of artists with similar goals.

Designed for artistic entities of all budget sizes, this program helps artists build infrastructure through ever-evolving offerings that are flexible and customizable to their needs. Artists select services to best fit their goals and, when bundled together, provide an affordable and efficient way for artists to build capacity and enlarge the scope of their business and artistic activities. Browse our service components below and submit an inquiry to speak with ASP’s director to determine if this program is a good fit for you.

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Connecting artists with seasoned arts professionals

ASP members receive access to arts professionals in the field who can provide them with guidance in planning and implementing their organizational and artistic visions. Pentacle communicates with interested artists to understand their needs and determine an appropriate mentor match from its pool of leaders. Once finalized, the artist and mentor meet for a minimum of eight hours over the course of the artist’s ASP contract, according to a schedule that works best for both. Through open dialogue, observation, and evaluation, the mentor counsels the artist and invests time and expertise in the artist’s success.

Mentorship starts at 8 hours for $550.

Providing access to administrators on Pentacle’s staff

Recognizing that it is very difficult to hire, train, and oversee part-time administrative staff, ASP gives artists access to a dedicated administrator on Pentacle’s staff for a minimum of 25 hours throughout their ASP year. Pentacle assigns artists a Pentacle staff person according to the skills and experience necessary to carry out upcoming projects and tasks, which is completed under the guidance and with the additional help of ASP’s director. Click here to view the types of projects your administrators could help you with.

Administrative Personnel starts at 25 hours for $500.

Recruiting, training, and matching artists with interns

Through an extensive recruitment and interview process, Pentacle identifies potential interns and matches them with artistic entities seeking assistance through a 2-month internship period. Internships are facilitated through Pentacle’s Education & Outreach department, and artists may participate without ASP membership. However, ASP members are offered participation in its internship program at a discounted rate and will be guaranteed acceptance. Click here to learn more about the benefits of the internship program.

Internships offer 80 hours of intern time for $500.

Producing three annual performances for ASP artists

ASP members may participate in any of the exclusive ASP performances or showcases that take place three times throughout the year, including:

• Pentacle Presents (spring performance opportunity at a venue outside of NYC)

• Fall Further (fall performance opportunity at Dixon Place, NYC)

• APAP (performance slot in a showcase at City Center Studios, NYC)

Pentacle fully produces each show: booking the venue, hiring and managing technical staff, completing general audience outreach, and handling all communication and administration. All ticket sales are redistributed back to the participating artists to be used on other ASP services.

Pentacle Presents and Fall Further are each offered for $450. APAP is offered virtually for $300 and in-person for $800. All ticket income is redistributed back to participating artists to be use on more ASP services.

Supporting artistic process through subsidized studio rentals

Pentacle partners with Nancy Meehan Dance Company to offer discounted studio space in the historic Westbeth Artists Housing building at 55 Bethune Street. With an active online rentals calendar, space booking options are easily visible to artists and can be booked at any date/time that is available and convenient for the artist and collaborators. Rental requests and fees are administered by Pentacle, and artists access the studio using a lockbox.

Studio Space starts at 6 hours for $75.

Offering free membership to Pentacle’s Unique projects

All artists who are part of ASP have the option to receive membership to Pentacle's basic fiscal sponsorship program, Unique projects. This sponsorship program gives artists the ability to receive tax deductible donations and apply for foundation grants, as well as other nonprofit benefits such as discounted rehearsal space. Artists work with a dedicated administrator to clearly, reliably, and efficiently process their donations and send acknowledgments on their behalf. This service is ideal for emerging or established artists with project-specific fundraising needs.

Fiscal Sponsorship membership through Unique projects is free, and administrative fees on donations and grants are the lowest for individual artists in New York City, starting at 5.5%. Please note that you do not need to have ASP membership to join Unique projects.

Providing access to NYC's largest creative reuse center

ASP members receive access on a first-come-first served basis to Materials for the Arts, which is an organization that collects unneeded items from businesses and individuals, making those donations available for free to nonprofit organizations with arts programming, government agencies, and public schools. Please note that, according to MTFA’s regulations, ASP members must be fiscally sponsored by Unique projects (see above) to visit.

Access to Materials for the Arts is free.

Consulting artists in specific areas of need

Working Sessions offer artists a chance to work one-on-one with a Pentacle administrator who has expertise in a specific area they have questions about. Our staff leads the artist through the steps to solve the problem at hand, while also offering them tools to continue implementing the solution independently.

Topics include:

• Capacity Building & Management

• Fiscal

• Marketing

• Booking & Touring

• Grant Writing

Working Sessions are $75 per consultation.

There is an annual membership fee of $1250 for participation in ASP. Throughout the contract period, each ASP service fee is deducted from the membership fee until all funds are used. If desired, ASP members may choose to use services that exceed the total value of the membership fee. Payment plan options are available. Pentacle will soon be launching a second membership option which will include free membership to nextSteps and free access to a shared ASP Zoom account.

Download a PDF of the service descriptions and prices here.

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