On Site Opera has announced it is closing after 12 years.

In a press release, the company said, “On Site Opera will bring its extraordinary 12-year journey to a close this winter as New York’s acclaimed trailblazer in site-specific and immersive opera productions. Since its founding in 2012, the company has redefined opera by creating intimate, accessible productions in unconventional settings and expanding the art form through innovative storytelling, audience experience, accessibility, and technology.”

According to the press release the decision was driven by an increasingly challenging environment in funding for the arts combined with rising operational costs.

Corey Kinger, the President of On Site Opera’s Board of Directors, said, “We are immensely proud of what On Site Opera has achieved in reimagining how opera is experienced and setting a standard for artistic excellence in the field. While this decision was incredibly difficult, it reflects our unwavering commitment to the values that have guided this company since its inception. As stewards of On Site Opera’s legacy, we could not in good conscience continue without being able to guarantee the company had the future financial foundation necessary to continue to uphold the fairness and artistic integrity that have always been our hallmark.”

On Site Opera’s General Director / CEO, Piper Gunnarson added, “This decision has been extraordinarily difficult, but necessary as the arts are facing significant financial headwinds. I am forever grateful to the donors, funding institutions, and audiences who have supported the artistic innovation we have been able to foster, and I am incredibly proud of every single person who has been part of this organization and the work they have all done to inspire artists and audiences alike to reimagine this beautiful art form.”

The company noted that as it prepares for its final chapter, the leadership will be committed to transparency, responsibility, and celebrating the legacy of a company that changed how opera is experienced. Operations will wind down in winter 2025, with the company completing final contracted projects and closing out its financial operations as led by a dedicated board committee.

On Site Opera was founded in 2012 by Eric Einhorn and Jessica Kiger and debuted with its inaugural production of Shostakovich’s “The Tale of the Silly Baby Mouse” at The Bronx Zoo and quickly became the country’s leading presenter of site-specific opera. The company produced nearly 30 site-specific operas, including five world premieres, and forged partnerships with iconic institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The American Museum of Natural History, Harlem’s iconic Cotton Club, the South Street Seaport Museum, and more.

The company also partnered with Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Atlanta Opera, Caramoor, and the Yarra Valley Opera Festival (Australia) to bring its productions to audiences beyond New York City.

Regarding the closure of the company he founded Eric Einhorn said, “On Site Opera was born from a desire to make opera an immersive, intimate, and inclusive art form. We set out to push artistic boundaries by reimagining what opera could be, alongside creating a company whose culture was built around empathy, collaboration, and equity. I am incredibly proud of how we brought that vision to life over the past 12 years, and I will be forever grateful to the hundreds of incredible artists, staff, board, supporters, and audiences who have been part of the On Site Opera journey.”

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