History
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.
Specialties
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).