Z Space Awarded Multiple Grants To Expand Artist Residency Programs

Z Space, one of the nation's leading laboratories for the development of new works, is pleased to announce the expansion of its two artist residency programs: Technical Development Residency and Free Space at Z Space.

Z Space was awarded a $450,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support the annual Technical Development Residency program over the next three years. This residency program provides artists from all over the country with much needed technical and design resources at the crucial late-stage of new work development. Z Space is one of the very few institutions in the San Francisco Bay Area to offer late-stage residencies across all performance disciplines. These residences include access to space, a fully equipped theater, and technical personnel. The program was launched in 2011 with support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Z Space has also been awarded a $50,000 match from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for the new Free Space at Z Space program. Free Spaceis also funded by new grants from The Zellerbach Family Foundation and The Sam Mazza Foundation. Launched in 2018, Free Space at Z Space provides free space in Z Below, Z Space's 85-seat black box theater, to groups that are new to Z Space and would not otherwise be able to afford the space. Applications are available now through September 1, 2018; more information is available at www.zspace.org/residencies.

"We are committed to keeping Z Space accessible and affordable," says Executive Artistic Director Lisa Steindler. "These grants help cover our occupancy costs so that we can welcome new artists to our space. Whether they are experimenting with design elements on a nearly-finished new work or starting something from the ground up, it is essential for artists to have access to professional space for experimentation and artistic growth."

About Z Space

Z Space, based in the Mission District of San Francisco, is one of the nation's leading laboratoriesfor the development of new works. Led by Executive Artistic Director Lisa Steindler since 2007, Z Space celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2018, continuing its mission to empower artistic risk, collaboration and camaraderie amongst artists and audience in the service of commissioning, developing, and producing new work.

Keystone initiatives include New Work, a development, production, and presentation programthat supports artists and ensembles from conception to realization of unique works; Word forWord, a resident theater company that transforms works of literature verbatim to the stage; YouthArts, an arts education program promoting literacy and creativity; and the subsidized rentalprogram which opens our venues for use by a variety of other art groups.

Z Space fills an essential role in the Bay Area's arts ecology and continues to raise its profile and partnerships both regionally and nationally. Eschewing traditional theater models with fixed seasons and subscription packages, Z Space chooses to remain flexible, to focus on artists' needs,and to facilitate the time and resources necessary to develop each project fully.