157

Arte Útil archive nr:

157

Initiator:

Dan Peterman and Connie Spreen

Location:

US

Users:

Artists, curators, critics, general public, students

Maintained by:

Grants and individual donations

Certification:

implemented

Duration:

2002 - ongoing

Dan Peterman and Connie Spreen
-
Experimental Station

Description:

Throughout the 90's, Dan Peterman managed the building and sought to continue its history as a site for social and environmental action since the 60's. In 2002, following a massive fire, the structure was renovated and reopened as the Experimental Station, home to a range of social organizations and projects.
It offers various forms of support, including workspace at discounted rents, meeting space, technology, and the economy of shared resources. At the same time, the occupants are asked to offer lectures, exhibitions, etc. that are free and open to the public. Areas of primary interest include art, ecology, cultural criticism, independent publishing and alternative models of education.

Goals:

To provide essential resources that enable vulnerable, yet valuable initiatives to stabilize and flourish. To maintain a diverse and interdisciplinary balance of participants and activities and generate events, lectures, and exhibitions which are free and open to the public.

Beneficial Outcomes:

The building now hosts a number of initiatives and programs attending to local needs: a nonprofit community bike shop, a farmers market featuring educational programs, an investigative journalism production company called the Invisible Institute, and other public events such as conferences, concerts and readings.

Images: