The Studio @ Alt Space

Alt Space is a culture project in just and sustainable living by Lead Artist Reg Flowers, bringing together neighbors, grassroots organizations and allies in the social justice community, providing an incubator space to develop sustainable independent community-controlled resources. This summer, Alt Space (with the support of Virtuoso Design + Build) will break ground on a 1,800 square foot, studio facility in the existing basement. This community space will offer:

• 750 sq. ft. rehearsal/exhibition space for classes & rehearsals, meetings, receptions, screenings and recitals.
• a kitchenette
• gender neutral locker room
• maker’s space 
• and storage

The campaign goal is $20,655 to cover the cost of the 750 sq. ft. main rehearsal space. Please consider making a contribution to this next phase of the projects development. Every dollar you give will be matched (up to $1,000 per donor).

Alt Space uses a “gifting model” where those using the facility pay according to their ability and as a means to sustain the project, not as a means of generating profit to the space.

I’ll be working with Virtuoso Design + Build, who originally provided rendering for a vision of Alt Space. In typical Alt Space fashion, we'll be working with sustainable and environmetally friendly materials and maintaining as much of the original structure as feasible. The buildout will include waterproofing of walls and floors with new and improved drainage. The build will include newly installed plumbing, heating and wiring.

Field Street houses a number of community groups and Alt Space has been a resource proving gathering space, however the need has outgrown the available space at the facility. There is also a need for workspace for building and maintenance as well as to house other sustainability projects. Alt Space is a hub for social justice seeking to re-imagine how resources can be shared and how to achieve fair access to power and the ways power is produced and reproduced. The project centers around three areas.

• how we can take ownership of our food systems
• how we interact with the environment
• how we develop as a community

Some guiding principles of the space are solidarity (which is the basis for the gifting model employed in our interactions with the public),  non-violence,  acknowledgement of historical and present day systems of violence and oppression that are our dominant cultural mode, and good stewardship which accepts the idea that we don’t own the world, we are temporary and while we are here we owe to those who come after us to care deeply.