2019-20 Appeal
It’s is imperative in this time of arts spaces closing, and operating budgets becomes leaner to support the arts and arts organizations that are plugging away at effective programming and necessary resources for the community to create, educate, and explore their craft. Studio at 550 is midway through our 3rd year and the need for more programming is growing. During 2019 we had a great first year of our Creative Residency season with support from the Cambridge Arts Council’s LCC grant. We granted Daniel Davis, the Davis Sister (Alex and Joy Davis), and Alli Ross over $980 of space credit each to use as they like. In June Daniel presented “Homunculus” as well as brought Caro Novella to teach a workshop. In the beginning of this month the Davis Sisters had a “Slumber Party” at the studio (we slept for a whole 2.5 minutes and miraculously it was morning). Alli Ross is now hard at work in the Studio re-imagining a previous work in her repertory. In the winter this year we also held a SKILLSET Series which had production basics such as Working with a Lighting Designer taught by Stephen Petrilli; Self-Production taught by Speakeasy’s production manager Paul Melone; and Video Projection Design Workshop taught by myself. We have dance and music classes 7 times a week. Over 35+ hours of jam packed schedule during the evening including classes such as butoh with Sara June, West Aftrican Drum with Moussa Tratore, and Contemporary for All by Madison Florence. The announcement of the closing of Green Street Studios was a bit of an earthquake in our neighborhood. Artists going to be displaced, and Central Square booming with new development (with no real plans for a dedicated arts space). The Studio is situated in a prime location for access. At the crossroads of all options of transportation; a bus stop nearly 1/4 block from the entrance, the Red Line 1 block away, 2 parking lots, bike lanes, and plenty of pleasantly walkable sidewalks. This is great for our artists. It assures our teaching artists prime accessibility for their students. The choreographers for their dancers as well.