State's $2.6 Million Investment Supports Jobs, Economic Growth, and Cultural Enrichment
State-of-the-Art Performance Venue Expected to Create 60 Jobs and Serve 20,000 Residents Annually
Celebrates the Rich Musical Heritage and Creative Spirit of the Bronx
Empire State Development (ESD) today announced the grand opening of the $15.4 million Bronx Music Hall, a 14,000-square-foot performance venue and community cultural center in the Melrose neighborhood of the South Bronx. Located at 438 East 163rd Street, the facility is the new home of the Bronx Music Heritage Center (BMHC), which has been operated by the Women's Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco) since 2010. As the first newly constructed music performance venue in the borough in more than half a century, it represents a significant milestone for the area's cultural landscape. Featuring cutting-edge facilities, this new cultural hub will provide a platform for both established and emerging artists, fostering innovative collaborations that will attract cultural tourism and stimulate local economic growth. For more information about the Bronx Music Hall, to purchase tickets, or to register for classes, visit bronxmusichall.org.
Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "The opening of the Bronx Music Hall marks a new chapter in the cultural and economic renaissance of the South Bronx. This project embodies our commitment to supporting vibrant, inclusive communities through strategic investments in the arts and creative industries. This new venue will not only celebrate the borough's incredible musical legacy but also serve as a catalyst for job creation, tourism, and long-term economic growth."
Empire State Development Vice President and Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said, "The arts are a vital industry that supports and generates tourism throughout New York State, and I LOVE NY looks forward to promoting the Bronx Music Hall as part of the state's unparalleled cultural offerings. Through the Market New York program, we are investing in capital projects to help create new attractions and experiences that show residents and visitors alike how easy it is to love New York."
Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation President Davon Russell said, “We are delighted to welcome Bronxites and visitors from near and far to experience live performances and immerse themselves in the rich history, diversity, and brilliance of Bronx music. This state-of-the-art venue is the centerpiece of WHEDco’s Bronx Commons development, embodying our belief that access to the arts is an essential element of thriving, vibrant communities. We take immense pride in expanding cultural offerings in the Bronx, and we are deeply grateful to all of our supporters whose contributions have made this vision a reality.”
Developed by WHEDco, the Music Hall is part of the $165 million Bronx Commons project—a mixed-use development that includes 305 units of affordable housing, 26,700 square feet of retail space, and outdoor plazas. Designed as a dynamic hub for artistic expression and community engagement, the Bronx Music Hall offers state-of-the-art facilities to honor, showcase, and cultivate music, dance, theater, and interdisciplinary arts. At its core is a versatile 250-seat theater equipped for a wide range of live performances. The venue also boasts a lobby that will host exhibits, receptions, and events celebrating the borough's rich musical heritage, a green room for performers, a post-production and recording studio for artists to produce new works, and a dance studio that doubles as a multipurpose classroom for artists to hone their craft.
Extending beyond its walls, the Hall incorporates amphitheater-style seating in two adjacent plazas, providing a unique space for outdoor performances. This comprehensive array of indoor and outdoor amenities establishes the Bronx Music Hall as a premier destination, catering to the diverse needs of artists, audiences, and students alike.
Empire State Development supported the project through $2.6 million in grants, which includes a $2.3 million capital grant recommended by the New York City Regional Economic Development Council, and $312,000 through I LOVE NY's Market New York program. The venue will create 60 new permanent jobs, offering skilled employment opportunities to underemployed residents of the local community. Designed to serve an estimated 20,000 community members per year, the cultural center will offer live music, dance, and spoken word events, music and dance classes, theater workshops and productions, a youth orchestra, film screenings, art exhibitions, community showcases, and other events. Furthermore, it will foster educational and cultural partnerships, collaborating with dozens of community organizations to inspire community engagement in the arts and to encourage youth to pursue careers in the arts and music.
NYCREDC Co-Chairs Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, City University of New York Chancellor, and William D. Rahm said, "The Bronx Music Hall exemplifies the type of community-focused development that the Regional Economic Development Councils aim to support. This facility will not only honor the Bronx's musical legacy but also provide vital opportunities for education, employment, and economic growth. The NYCREDC is thrilled to see this project come to fruition and looks forward to its positive impact on the community."
Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation Founder and President Emerita Nancy Biberman said, "Today marks the culmination of a long journey: countless hours of research and dialogue with neighborhood residents, elected officials, Bronx musicians & historians. Over decades the Bronx produced more popular music than any place in our country for the simple reason that different cultural traditions lived alongside one another. Puerto Ricans and Cubans brought mambo and salsa. West Indians brought calypso. African Americans brought jazz, rhythm and blues and harmonic singing. Garifuna music arrived from Hondurans, Guatemalans, Belizeans & Nicaraguans. Eastern Europeans, Italians and migrants from the African continent settled and brought their own rhythms. The Bronx Music Hall will spotlight the sounds of new Americans from around the globe, as well as Bronx born artists like Prince Royce, Romeo Santos, Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B, French Montana, and Samara Joy.”
Bronx Music Heritage Center Co-Artistic Director Elena Martínez said, “Our new home at the Bronx Music Hall provides us with the long-anticipated opportunity to expand our artistic vision and engage larger audiences as we showcase the Bronx’s diverse cultural and musical legacy, in partnership with the borough’s incredible artistic community. This day has been eagerly awaited by our community members, audiences, and artists alike. The Bronx Music Hall stands as a source of pride for everyone involved and represents a major win for the South Bronx.”
State Senator Luis R. Sepulveda said, "The grand opening of the Bronx Music Hall is a tremendous investment in the future of the Bronx and our district, which has long been underfunded and overlooked. This $15 million project, supported by the state’s $2.6 million investment, brings much-needed resources, jobs, and cultural opportunities to the heart of our community. It’s more than just a state-of-the-art performance venue—it’s a beacon of hope and progress for the South Bronx. By providing skilled jobs, supporting local artists, and attracting cultural tourism, this music hall will strengthen our economy and enrich the lives of our residents. I am proud to witness the impact this investment will have in celebrating our district’s heritage and building a brighter, more equitable future for the Bronx.”
Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr. said, “With today’s opening of the Bronx Music Hall, we are laying the foundations for a new and creative landscape for our Borough. I was proud to contribute over half a million dollars as part of the wider Bronx Commons/Bronx Music Hall Project that is bringing 305 units of affordable housing, and community and retail spaces, that will serve to stimulate our local economy. In addition to the Bronx Music Hall’s catalog of offerings, these community initiatives will ensure that the Bronx is a hub for economic and artistic development for generations to come.”
Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson said, “I am proud to celebrate a monumental milestone for the South Bronx with the grand opening of the Bronx Music Hall. This stunning 14,000-square-foot cultural hub will serve as a beacon of creativity, providing a stage for both established and emerging artists in our borough. I am incredibly proud to support this initiative, which not only enhances our cultural landscape but also strengthens our community. A special thank you to the Empire State Development, WHEDco, and everyone else who played a role in the opening of this space and support for our cultural ecosystem in the Bronx.”
This new venue stands as a unique beacon of opportunity in the South Bronx, where no comparable facility currently exists. Situated within the Bronx Commons development, it serves as a central hub for cultural and economic activity, complementing adjacent community resources such as a 150-seat 3-K and pre-K school, restaurant and café retail space, and the Melrose Community Access Support and Training Center (CAST). The facility's distinctive design, featuring exterior artwork and an outdoor amphitheater, makes it a standout cultural destination in the area. As the first venue of its kind in the neighborhood, this innovative space not only celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the borough but also opens up opportunities for local residents, artists, and visitors, marking a significant step forward in the community's cultural and economic development.
New York State's support for the Bronx Music Hall exemplifies a broader commitment to investing in cultural institutions that catalyze economic development, promote tourism, and enrich residents' quality of life. By empowering artists, entrepreneurs, and community members with resources and opportunities, projects like the Bronx Music Hall transform neighborhoods into more vibrant, resilient, and prosperous communities across the Empire State. This initiative underscores the state's dedication to fostering thriving communities through strategic investments in arts and culture, reinforcing the vital role that creativity and innovation play in New York's future.
About Empire State Development
Empire State Development is New York's chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state's 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state's world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.
About The Bronx Music Hall and Bronx Music Heritage Center
The Women's Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco) developed the Bronx Music Hall (BMH) as a performance venue and community cultural center dedicated to honoring, showcasing, and cultivating music, dance, theater, and interdisciplinary arts in the Bronx. Fully opened in 2024, the BMH is the new permanent home of WHEDco's Bronx Music Heritage Center (BMHC), which was founded in 2010 to preserve and promote Bronx music, cultivate Bronx artists, spur neighborhood revival, and provide free cultural programs for the community. The BMHC operated out of the BMHC Lab since 2012.
About Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation
WHEDco is a community development organization founded on the radically simple idea that all people deserve to live in healthy, vibrant communities. Working in the South Bronx, WHEDco builds award-winning, sustainable, affordable homes that serve as anchors for strong communities of which residents can be proud. WHEDco’s mission is to create and bridge access in the Bronx to resources that support thriving neighborhoods—from high-quality early education and after-school programs to healthy food, cultural programming, and economic opportunity. For more information: www.whedco.org
Contact:
ESD Press Office | [email protected] | (800) 260-7313
Emily Mijatovic | [email protected] | (212) 803-3692