August 12, 2009

Dear experimental actors, dancers, performance artists, musicians, and film-makers:

This is to inform you all of an exciting new performance/rehearsal/film-viewing/gig space opening up later in the year in the basement of 35 High St, Auckland (the old Cause Celebre). Yussss!

You may have already heard about a new art collective by the name of ‘The Society of Brilliant Ideas’ who are in the initial phase of conception, and who are hoping to take over the lease of the 6th floor of 35 High St, Auckland. The aim is to convert the space into a hub of studios where artists/crafters can develop their individual practices and also collaborate and share ideas together. The collective is currently holding fundraisers and gigs to raise money for the lease and are also calling for members to become a part of the exciting new project. (Please visit our facebook page for more info:  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=115220630906).

Running along side this, the collective is also aiming to take over the lease of the basement of the same building as a space where experimental performance-based artists can develop and show their works to their communities. Auckland is currently starved of such spaces (hands up if you’re struggling to find rehearsal space!), and so hopefully this initiative will help us to overcome this. The aim is to slowly but surely turn the space into a boutique theatre (which will eventually have a bar, fingers crossed!) that can host low-budget/no-budget experimental dance and theatre works, film-viewings, small scale gigs (much like the Odeon used to), and also rehearsals for any kind of experimental performer/company/collective to develop their work. People who are interested in using the space will join the collective and pay a membership to use the facilities and have a say in the direction that the space will take.

Currently, the building is most definitely on the grungy side and we need to raise money to re-do the floor and install some walls etc. We are looking at holding a fundraiser for such building amendments in late September/early October which will include a hand-picked programme of experimental performers across a range of performance genres. Not only will this fundraiser hopefully generate needed costs, it will also give a good indication of the kind of performers that the space will foster. 

If this sounds like something that you may be interested in, from becoming a member, helping out with the administration of the project, or performing your experimental work at our fundraiser, please send me an email (catgwynne@gmail.com) with a contact phone number so that we can arrange a meeting. Also if you have any further questions about the space, let us know and we will endeavour to answer them. We look forward to hearing from you!

Arohanui,
Cat Gwynne