Our Story
Community that promotes inclusiveness
Fire Island is a narrow, 31-mile-long barrier island off the coast of Long Island. Since the 1920s, Cherry Grove has attracted artistic, bohemian vacationers from New York City and its surrounding areas, naturally evolving into one of the nation’s foremost LGBTQ summertime destinations.
The Arts Project of Cherry Grove was incorporated in 1948. Its first production was a fundraising event, the Cherry Grove Follies of 1948. Ever since then, the Arts Project has played a central role in the community life of Cherry Grove.
In 2013 The Community House was nominated for inclusion in the New York State Parks and National Registers for Historic Places. Cherry Grove resident, Carl Luss, researched and wrote the extensive nomination papers which ultimately resulted in its official designation on June 4, 2013. The Community House is one of three places designated for their seminal importance in LGBTQ history. (The others are The Stonewall Inn in New York City and the Frank Kameny home in Washington, D.C.)
The Arts Project of Cherry Grove and its home, the Community House, are proud to be considered instrumental in the history of the LGBTQ movement. We invite you to become active participants in this ever-evolving legacy.
Our History and Culture
See why our theater is on the National Historical Register
Founded in 1948, the Arts Project of Cherry Grove, Inc. (APCG) is the oldest known LGBTQ theater in America. APCG is a 501c3 community service organization dedicated to presenting the arts in Cherry Grove, Fire Island, New York, one of America’s most colorful communities.
Our purpose is to promote global appreciation of the rich and creative history of Cherry Grove as a safe haven for the LGBTQ community and their allies.
By learning about the Grove’s rich history, we can fully appreciate the space that many of us call home today. Join us as we journey into our history… one story at a time.
1948 - Theatre is founded
Cherry Grove is the home for the world’s longest running LGBTQ theatre and arts organization.
1949 - Community House
The Community House pictured left, circa 1949.
2013 - National Registry
The Community House was nominated for inclusion in the New York State Parks and National Registers for Historic Places.
Our Mission
Celebrating LGBTQ Arts
The Arts Project of Cherry Grove is committed to preserving and celebrating LGBTQ+ history—past, present, and future—through the power of arts and culture. We provide a safe, supportive, and unapologetically queer space where artists can create and express themselves freely, without censorship or fear.
As the cultural heart of Cherry Grove, APCG fosters a vibrant spirit of community by promoting inclusivity, creativity, and participation. We welcome residents, guests, and visitors to join us—onstage, behind the scenes, or in the audience—as we continue our proud legacy of joyful resistance, radical self-expression, and collective celebration.
Greetings From Ikea
Enjoy the “signs” of our times
Enjoy a brief tour prepared by IKEA, 2020's Homecoming "Covid" Queen, showing some of the unique house names and signs.
Land Acknowledgement
Recognition
The Arts Project of Cherry Grove acknowledges that the land on which we gather—Cherry Grove, Fire Island—is part of the ancestral territory of the Unkechaug and Shinnecock Peoples, who have stewarded this land for generations and who continue to live and thrive in what is now called Long Island.
We recognize that Cherry Grove exists on land forcibly taken through colonization and that the histories of Indigenous peoples have long been excluded from dominant narratives. As an organization committed to the celebration of LGBTQ+ voices and the preservation of marginalized histories, we understand the importance of honoring the enduring presence and contributions of Indigenous communities.
We offer our respect and gratitude to the Unkechaug Nation, the Shinnecock Indian Nation, and all Indigenous peoples past, present, and future. We are committed to learning, unlearning, and standing in solidarity with Indigenous communities in the ongoing work of truth, justice, and reconciliation.
