Our Mission The Town Hall’s mission is to provide affordable world-class entertainment by new and established artists to a diverse audience; to inspire the youth in our community to appreciate and participate in the arts at The Town Hall and in schools through our Education Outreach Program; to preserve and enhance The Town Hall as an historic landmark venue for the enjoyment and cultural enrichment for generations to come.
Our History Built by The League of Political Education, a women’s suffragists group, The Town Hall was envisioned as a meeting house for all New Yorkers. A public forum for the free discussion of political and civic matters, where all sides would have equal privileges and where any lawabiding person could voice their opinion on the affairs of the day. When the hall opened, they quickly realized that the acoustics designed for the human voice was also perfect for music as well. The Town Hall is a 1,500-seat National Historic Landmark venue in the heart of New York City, and host to countless cultural and musical milestones. Margaret Sanger was arrested for talking about birth control, Mailer and Greer debated the woman’s movement, and protests and rallies have been part and parcel of Town Hall for over 97 years. From 1935 to 1956, Town Hall hosted America’s Town Meeting of the Air, radio’s most popular public access program, featuring guests as diverse as Eleanor Roosevelt, Norman Thomas, Langston Hughes, Joseph McCarthy, Pearl Buck and Carl Sandburg. Strauss, Stravinsky and Isaac Stern made their US debuts at Town Hall. Marian Anderson gave her first New York recital there. Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Bob Dylan had their first major concerts, Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker debuted bebop, and Mabel Mercer & Bobby Short staged the “Woodstock of Cabaret” from the Town Hall stage.
As We Look To The Future The Town Hall’s mission is ever evolving, but we never lose sight of our founders’ vision. We endeavor to keep their principles in mind with every facet we add to the jewel that is Town Hall. In 2021, Town Hall will be celebrating 100 years of bringing art, culture, and conversation to the people of New York. We are in the midst of planning our Centennial Anniversary and are cultivating new supporters to participate in this campaign. In celebration, The Town Hall Foundation will modernize for the 21st century by honoring its history as a gathering place for New York and its status as a National Historic Landmark. As a New York City beacon of culture, Town Hall’s renovations and enhancements will ensure it is relevant for future generations. This project will make it possible for us to continue our rich tradition of bringing the widest range of performers and points of view from all over the world to New York audiences.
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