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The Artist Co-op Launches With Pop-Up Event in New York

The new organization plans to offer programs and services to support the performing arts community.

NEW YORK CITY: The Artist Co-Op, a new organization that’s developing a shared workspace for performing artists, has announced a four-day launch event at the Centre for Social Innovation. Called the Artist Co-op Pop Up, the event, which is free and open to the public, will take place June 7-10.

Rachel Berger
Rachel Berger

“After my third time applying to the top MFA programs in acting, bummed and disheartened, I looked back at my statement of purpose, which asked why I want to be an actor,” said founder Rachel Berger in a statement. “Out of rejection came a silver lining…I realized I wanted to build a community and be surrounded by the intellectual capital that a university would offer.”

Inspired by WeWork, a cooperative shared workspace aimed at young entrepreneurs, as well as festivals like the New York International Fringe Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Artist Co-Op hopes to take the model of a shared workspace and apply it to the New York theatre world. Berger hopes to create a collaborative space where actors, directors, playwrights, and other members of the performing arts community can develop their work.

The pop-up event will serve as a demonstration of what the organization hopes to create in a permanent collaborative workspace. Once in a permanent home, the organization plans to offer an array of services, including:

  • Rehearsal spaces
  • Shared collaborative space
  • Conference rooms
  • Business amenities (mailbox, printer, and fax)
  • Curated member services (website development, financial assistance, etc.)
  • Incubator performances (new plays and musicals)
  • Lockers
  • Library (scripts and props)

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