LIVE ARTS BREWERY (LAB)

Charlotte Ford's photo © Jacques-Jean Tiziou / www.jjtiziou.net

About the LAB

A laboratory for research and development, the Live Arts Brewery (LAB) supports artistic research, experimentation, and exploration of contemporary theater, dance, and cross-genre live performance work. The LAB provides artists with a state-of-the-art theater facility at the Live Arts Studio, a 2,400-square-foot space housed in a former brewery adjacent to the Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe administrative offices in Northern Liberties. The studio includes a black box theater equipped with professional sound equipment and a lighting grid.

With generous support from the Independence Foundation, Live Arts will soon convert another portion of our building into studio space. A 4,000 square-foot space will be renovated in October 2010 to house an additional studio dedicated to research and development activity. Our theater space will continue to be used for various LAB activities such as research + development, rehearsals, showings and live performances as well as for a new initiative meant to support artists with Production Residencies.

The LAB further expands and enhances the Festival's mission to support the development of new work by selected artists and provides the organization with a year-round presence in the cultural landscape of Philadelphia.

The LAB operates under the leadership of Craig T. Peterson, who was appointed as the program's inaugural Director. As such, Craig manages the daily administration of the LAB as well as overseeing the planning and production of the Second Thursdays Series.

Craig comes to the Festival after a decade of success at New York City's Dance Theater Workshop, where he managed the Artist-in-Residence program for several years before joining the Production staff as Senior Producer and Artistic Director. He has served on numerous panels for international arts funding institutions, consulted with various arts and social service organizations as a program site assessor and lecturer, and traveled extensively to identify emerging talent and connect with artists and arts organizations worldwide.

As the inaugural Director of the LAB, Craig leverages his experience, vision, and passion for artistic cultivation as he continues to develop innovative programs to further expand the LAB.

Contact Craig at craig@livearts-fringe.org

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