Mission & Values

Gibney’s mission is to tap into the vast potential of movement, creativity, and performance to effect social change and personal transformation.

Gibney’s vision is to bring together communities working at the intersection of art and social justice to build momentum and catalyze action beyond the studio and stage. Gibney is a dance company, a performing arts hub, and a social action incubator located in New York City.

Our artistically acclaimed and socially active Company of Artistic Associates performs works by renowned and rising contemporary choreographers. Gibney’s Community initiatives use art to prevent and move beyond violence 365 days a year. We are the steward of two beautiful locations comprising a vibrant performing arts Center.

Through expansive programming, we push boundaries, address pressing issues, lift voices, and mobilize the power of movement to transform lives and, in turn, change the world.

Gibney embodies …

RESPECT

We are considerate, thoughtful, and act with integrity

ADVOCACY

We are supportive, principled, and catalytic.

RESPONSIBILITY

We are collaborative, responsive, and dedicated to sustainable change.

ACTION

We are resourceful, proactive, enterprising, and resilient

EQUITY

We are inclusive and committed to justice, anti-racism, anti-oppression, and diversity

The values are intrinsic to Gibney and guide how we work together and interact with our core communities.

Inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) are core tenets of Gibney and central to our mission, vision, values, and daily engagement with our community. 

We are committed to advancing our programming, services, and the dance field at large through these lenses and acknowledge that continued organizational learning and growth are required to do so effectively.

These core tenets are exemplified by:

Inclusion – our commitment to making all members of the community feel welcome and represented at all levels at Gibney.

Diversity – our commitment to embracing aesthetics, groups, communities, and individuals of all kinds, no matter their identification by race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, religion, age, disability, or physical or mental health status.

Equity – our commitment to anti-racism and upholding the fair and just treatment of all members of our community.

Accessibility – our commitment to providing equitable access to our programs, services, technology, and physical space to everyone along the continuum of human ability and experience.

Gibney is committed to diversity and anti-racism. We have a critical and urgent responsibility to help combat systemic racism in the cultural sector and commit to:

… distributing power equitably within the organization as a force for sustainable, positive change.

… engaging in ongoing education and dialogue, recognizing that we must understand past wrongs and continuously learn and adapt.

… advancing opportunities and access for the racially and culturally diverse artists, employees, community members, and partners we serve.

… refining organizational practices, policies, and culture to drive inclusion, diversity, equity, and access.

… establishing fair protocols and practices that address power dynamics and the role they play in the interactions between artists and institutions.

… partnering with and providing material resources to organizations and initiatives that are actively working toward racial equity and justice.

We are accountable to ourselves and our communities to uphold these important commitments and to building an inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible cultural sector.