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.
“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)
