The Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC) was established in 2005 to house the core activities of the Baryshnikov Dance Foundation, incorporated in 1979 by Mikhail Baryshnikov. BAC serves as a creative laboratory, meeting place, and performance space for a vibrant community of artists from around the world. BAC is also dedicated to building audiences for the arts by presenting contemporary, innovative work at low or no cost to to the public.

Audiences representing a wide demographic and artists across disciplines have been served through fellowship and residency programs; commissions of new work; the creation of a dance company; presentations of an acclaimed series of free chamber music concerts (the Movado Hour), a series of film screenings with related discussion (BAC Flicks), jazz concerts with live radio broadcast, international arts festivals, and performances by theater and dance artists from around the world; visual art exhibitions; and numerous free workshops to practicing professional artists. To date, BAC programs have served more than 500 artists, and approximately 6,000 audience members visit the Center each year.

Located in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York City, BAC comprises four large column-free studios, a studio theater, and office space. In November 2008, BAC purchased a 299-seat theater within the building that houses its existing facilities. BAC renovated and re-opened the new Jerome Robbins Theater in February 2010. The renowned Wooster Group is the resident theater company of BAC, creating and performing work in the new venue three months out of the year. Other programming in the theater parallels the existing mission of BAC, emphasizing multi-disciplinary work, emerging talent, and international artists who might not otherwise have the opportunity to perform in the United States.