Thank you for making it to this page! Your being here shows your dedication to the community and the arts in Ithaca and beyond. Allies for Deep Dive, a newly formed group aimed at advocating for Deep Dive and live music support in Ithaca, NY, thanks you for your support.

Deep Dive is the heart of Ithaca’s live music scene. It has played host to a countless number of music artists, genres, and identity groups. It presents original monthly and weekly programming that supports Ithaca’s vibrant community of artists in addition to bringing in regional, national, and international touring acts.

From the start, Deep Dive has filled a vital role in sitting between multiple larger music markets prior– acts too small to fill the State Theatre, and acts too big for smaller music rooms. When that cultural and social commerce gap is filled, it creates a symbiotic ecosystem for the arts, groups of people, and exchange of ideas. When things come through Ithaca, Ithaca gets brought out. However, this is at risk.

Ithaca, a town once thriving with many options for live music and community gathering spaces, has in the last year alone lost two key small music rooms, with a looming and alarming third beloved space that will be closing its small but influential stage at the end of the 2025 year. This totals to at least six music venues being closed in the last five years. And this isn’t just specific to Ithaca, independent incubators across the nation are ceasing to exist in an unprecedented manner.

“In New York (State), despite the sector’s clear economic impact, only 19% of independent stages identified themselves as profitable in 2024, underscoring the urgent need for solutions to ensure their survival and sustainability.” (National Independent Venue Association, NIVA, 2025) And here we are. There is an epidemic of venue closings around the U.S. “The majority (64%) operate without profitability, burdened by rising artist fees, staffing costs, unpredictable PRO (Performing Rights Organizations like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC) expenses, real estate pressures, predatory resale practices, and monopolistic industry conditions. This combination threatens their long-term sustainability…” (NIVA, 2025).

When another music venue closes, the question that lingers with community members is “how could I have done more?” Through this campaign, we’re offering a solution. While we fear losing Ithaca’s artistic pulse, we deeply believe in our community’s strength and ability to work together for how we want our city to look and feel like. Deep Dive has given us so much, finally we have the opportunity to give back. It’s time.

Our goal is $85,000. Like voices in a choir, any contribution makes the entirety greater.

To anyone contributing– we greatly appreciate your influence on community building and the arts. Thank you so much.

Deep Dive, we are deeply invested in you.

With love and care,

Allies for Deep Dive