Pioneer Works is a cultural center dedicated to experimentation, education, and production across disciplines. Through a broad range of educational programs, performances, residencies, and exhibitions, Pioneer Works transcends disciplinary boundaries to foster a community where alternative modes of thought are activated and supported. We strive to make culture accessible to all.

85% of our funds are spent on free and affordable programs, across each disciplinary department and our community engagement team. This wide scope of accessible offerings attracts over 150,000 individuals per year to our building. In order to sustain our programming through this process, we are working with our generous donor community to raise the operating funds required to continue to provide our high level of affordable and thought-provoking programming for the community of Red Hook, New York City, and our audience members from around the world.

Pioneer Works is a non-profit 501(c)(3). View our Form 990 here.

Constructed in 1866 to house Pioneer Iron Works, the building was originally a factory for constructing large-scale industrial materials including railroad tracks and machinery for sugar plantations. The building was burned to the ground by a devastating fire in 1881, but was rebuilt shortly thereafter and remained in operation until the end of World War II. The factory was a landmark that ultimately gave Pioneer Street its name.

Board of Directors

• Azita Ardakani
• Julia Bator
• David Belt
• Ron Elum
• Katherine Ikeda
• Andrew Kortschak
• Janna Levin
• Jason Liebman
• Susie Lopez
• Charles Meyer
• Maria Popova
• Matthew Putman
• Caroline Rupert
• Andres Santo Domingo
• Alan Tisch
• Dustin Yellin
• Leyli Zohrenejad

Advisory Board

• Paola Antonelli
• Sunny Bates
• Deborah Berke
• Carol Bove
• Benjamin Bronfman
• David Brooks
• David Byrne
• Gabriel Calatrava
• Perry Chen
• Thomas Clapp
• Bob Colacello
• Lacey Dorn
• Jesse Dylan
• Robert Hammond
• Gibby Haynes
• Alanna Heiss
• Paul Hoffman
• Karen Brooks Hopkins
• Michael Joo
• Andrew Kern
• Ben Lerner
• Kweku Mandela
• Jennifer McCrea
• Blair Miller
• Shirin Neshat
• Tom Reiss
• Paul Roossin
• Esperanza Spalding
• Justin Stanwix
• Mickalene Thomas
• Andrew Vanwyngarden
• Justin Vernon
• Robert Wong
• HRH Princess Eugenie of York
• Izzy Zivkovic

• Dustin Yellin
  Founder
• Gabriel Florenz
  Founding Artistic Director
• Marcia Santoni
  COO

• Jen Atalla
  Video Production
• Hugo Barreca
  CFO
• Nimrod Barshad
  Senior Web Developer
• Regine Basha
  Residency Director
• Blas Bonilla
  Maintenance Supervisor
• Douglas Calhoun
  Special Events Manager
• Ben Castanon
  Partnerships and Strategy
• Vivian Chui
  Associate Curator
• James Clark
  Technical Director
• Christina Daniels
  Marketing and Development Associate
• Camille Drummond
  Bookstore and Publications Manager
• Becky Elmquist
  Communications Director
• Katya Evstratyeva
  Finance
• Greg Fox
  Music Curator-at-Large
• Joey Frank
  Editor, Pioneer Works Journal
• Justin Frye
  Director of Music Programming
• Katie Giritlian
  Publishing Coordinator
• Kyle Hagerman
  AV Manager
• Tiffanie Harris
  Head of Community Programs
• David Everitt Howe
  Curator
• Sandy Kassalias
  Events Manager
• Daniel Kent
  Design Director
• Janna Levin
  Chair & Director of Sciences
• Milene Lichtwarck
  Assistant to the Director of Sciences
• Samantha Maldonado
  Business Development Coordinator
• Tommy Martinez
  Director of Technology
• Angie Meitzler
  Tech Labs Coordinator
• Carlos Perez
  Maintenance
• Maxine Petry
  Advancement and Growth
• Sheetal Prajapati
  Director of Public Engagement
• Marisa Prefer
  Gardener
• Ethan Primason
  Production Coordinator
• Gabe Rubin
  Video Production
• David Sheinkopf
  Technology Adviser
• Bethany Tabor
  Public Programs Coordinator
• Toccarra Thomas
  General Manager
• Julian Townley
  Installation & Construction

• Accountant
• School & Group Visits Coordinator (Temporary)