Community Spaces

RIOC offers community space permits at both the Roosevelt Island Cultural Center and Good Shepherd Community Center.

Each offers many different room options for various community events. Permits are issued seasonally during bi-annual permit request windows. Permit requests that are submitted outside of these windows are processed on a first come, first served basis.

Permitting or Public Events and Meetings- ADA Compliance:

When RIOC issues a permit to a private business or non-profit organization for a public event, the permit holder must be mindful of their obligations to disabled attendees.  All permitted spaces are wheelchair accessible.  Compliance for persons who are hearing-impaired is the responsibility of the permit holder.  For information on sign language or CART (Communication Access Real-time Translation) transcription services, please email permits@rioc.ny.gov.

The Cultural Center

Located at 548 Main Street, the main entrance is down the red steps in the 548 Main Street Breezeway. Wheelchairs and strollers can gain entry via elevator by going through the 560 Main Street Breezeway, turning right, and ringing the buzzer by the red doors behind Public Safety.

The Cultural Center is open from 9am to 9pm daily and offers the spaces below for rental.  The Cultural Center is closed on the following holidays:  New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

  1. Blackwell Room
  2. Lighthouse Room
  3. roosevelt Room
Blackwell Room
  1. Large Studio
  2. Small studio
  3. Theater
Large Studio

Permitting Schedule and Fees

Cultural Center permit applications are accepted the following times each year:

  • Winter & Spring Session- January 1 to June 30
    • Permit application submission begins November 1
  • Summer and Fall- July 1 to December 31
    • Permit application submission begins May 1
  1. RI Youth 501C 
  2. RI Youth 
  3. Adult Group <25
  4. non profit
  5. for profit (fees collected) 
Cultural Center rates for Roosevelt Island Youth Non- Profit Organizations. Organizations must be non-profits based on the island and directly serve island youth.
Blackwell Room Lighthouse Room Roosevelt Room
FREE FREE $10/hour
  1. RI Youth 501c 
  2. RI Youth
  3. Adult group <25 
  4. Non Profit
  5. for profit (fees collected) 
Cultural Center rates for Roosevelt Island Youth Non- Profit Organizations. Organizations must be non-profits based on the island and directly serve island youth.
Large Studio Renwick Studio Small Studio Theater
$20/hour $15/hour $15/hour $25/hour

Good Shepherd Community Center

Located at 543 Main Street, the main entry is through a handicapped-accessible red door on the north side of the building. Permit holders must show their permit to the Public Safety desk (located at 550 Main Street) to gain entry into the building.

Good Shepherd offers the following spaces for rental:

  1. Sanctuary
  2. Multipurpose Room
  3. Classroom
Good Shepherd Sanctuary

Permitting Schedule and Fees

Good Shepherd permit applications are accepted the following times each year:

  • Winter & Spring Session- January 1 to June 30
    • Permit application submission begins November 1
  • Summer and Fall- July 1 to December 31
    • Permit application submission begins May 1
  1. RI Youth 501c
  2. Ri youth
  3. Adult Group <25
  4. Non profit
  5. For profit (fees collected)
Good Shepherd rates for Roosevelt Island Youth Non- Profit Organizations. Organizations must be non-profits based on the island and directly serve island youth.
Sanctuary Multipurpose Room Classroom
$25/hour $20/hour $10/hour