MadLab Theatre Named Finalist In LINC MetLife Foundation Innovative Spaces Award

MadLab Theatre and Gallery was named one of 16 finalists for the prestigious, national LINC MetLife Foundation Innovative Spaces Award.

The MetLife Foundation Innovative Space Awards (ISA) program recognizes, rewards, and promotes successful artist space development projects that exhibit innovation, affordability for artists,
sustainability, and community impact.

The ISA is a competitive national awards program developed by LINC and MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning in partnership with both the MetLife Foundation and the Ford Foundation. The program emphasizes the role affordable artist space projects play in community
revitalization and socially progressive community development, and will increase awareness of replicable, sustainable approaches and models.

Two reports, State of the Arts and Culture in Columbus, Ohio, a report created for The Columbus Partnership, and State of the Arts Report, created by The Ohio Arts Council, state that one of the most pressing issues for small arts organizations in the central Ohio area is the lack of available and affordable rental spaces. While MadLab is a producing entity, it is also an affordable community space available to artists, theatre companies, and small nonprofits that lack a venue. In 2009, MadLab purchased and renovated its current space located at 227 North Third Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215. With the opening of its new venue MadLab continued its history of providing performance space at affordable prices while expanding its offering to include the newly renovated lobby and restrooms, expanded artists greenroom space, connected scene shop and storage space and expanded audience seating.

Rather than charge exorbitant rental fees, which would be cost prohibitive for small groups, door splits and profit-sharing are inserted into rental agreements to ensure those interested have the
opportunity of a venue. Start-up troupes such as Carrickmacross Productions, Theatre Deadalus, Raconteur Theatre Co., and Evolution Theatre Co. have all used MadLab to stage their productions.
According to Paul Lockwood, Artistic Director of Evolution Theatre Company, "Both of the shows we presented at MadLab {...}, Stone Cold Dead Serious and The Hopper Collection, were a success financially due in large part to MadLab's nurturing, and affordable, artistic environment." The fact that MadLab saw only four dark weekends in both 2009 and since opening its new facility in March of 2010, speaks to the need that small arts organizations and ensembles have for such venues and havens.

As part of the Innovative Spaces Award project organizations are asked to supply information and photos of the space. Upon selection as a finalist, MadLab was visited by MetLife representative Juana Sanchez. Ms. Sanchez met with MadLab volunteers as well as several local
artistic leaders to give her a sense of the importance of the venue and organization to the local community. The entire process from application to announcement was a six month process.

Being named a finalist for this prestigious prize is a one of a kind experience for MadLab and its leaders. "We are overwhelmed by being named a finalist for this award. The award winners are producing amazing community impacts in a variety of state-of-the-art, creative venues. We are honored to be named on the finalist list," Jennifer Barlup, Chair, MadLab Theatre & Gallery Board of Directors.

The complete list of finalists includes:

910 Arts, Denver, CO
Artists For Humanity EpiCenter, Boston, MA (Honorable Mention)
Arts Incubator Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
AVA Gallery and Art Center, Lebanon, NH (Honorable Mention)
BorderFRONT Living, San Ysidro, CA
Boston Center for the Arts, Inc., Boston, MA
Convergence, Alexandria, VA
Hudson Opera House, Hudson, NY
Kamehameha Schools, Honolulu, HI (Honorable Mention)
MadLab Theatre & Gallery, Columbus, OH
Murphy School, Raleigh, NC
Project Row Houses, Houston, TX (Honorable Mention)
Side Street Projects, Pasadena, CA (Grand Prize Recipient)
Topaz Arts, Inc, Woodside, NY
Urbana Champaign Independent Media Center, Urbana, IL
Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, Seattle, WA (Honorable Mention)

For more information on MadLab Theatre and Gallery visit, 227 N. 3rd St., Columbus, OH 43215, www.madlab.net. For mention on the finalists and the ISA visit
http://www.lincnet.net/artist-space/2010-metlife-foundation-innovative-spaces