Micro-financing for Theater

We're creating ~ think social networking meets venture philanthropy ~ a micro-financing funding model based on the Nobel prize winning Grameen bank.

What is the Grameen bank?

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Help produce theater.

For $100 you'll get:

• Part ownership of a new theater production, produced by Galapagos Art Space
• Part ownership in a racehouse at Belmont Racetrack. We'll go visit the horse and watch her race.
• Two tickets to the production, and you'll be invited to readings of the work and to rehearsals. You'll get to meet the director and the actors at a special cocktail party Galapagos Art Space will organize.
• A special ticket - at cost - to go skydiving with us.

What if we discover the next "Rent", or the next "A Chorus Line"? What if the theater piece we select one day goes to Broadway?

• As an owner of the work you'll own a share of the profits.

Why are we doing this?

• More than 25% of the once two hundred Off-Off-Broadway theaters have closed in the last five years. And that was during an unprecedented economic boom.
  
  
• We estimate that another 25% will disappear in this economic crisis, within the next sixteen months.
  

Why is finding innovative ways to fund theater important for New York City?

• New York doesn't compete to bring the best and brightest to its most important industries with a network of fine running paths or wonderful bike trails. We don't compete for tourists with mountain views.
  We compete with culture.
  
  
• Other cities, cities like Berlin or London, want our best and brightest - the ones our meritocracy would obviously miss the most - and they'll get them if our artists can't set their foot on a stage or get their work on a wall. New York can be expensive but it must include opportunity in it's narrative or it's only expensive.

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The next step:

We're looking for the right theater piece to begin this program with.

In the meantime, if you have questions, or thoughts, or you'd like to participate:

If you are an artist, email us at <artist@galapagosartspace.com>

No experience necessary! If you'd like to produce theater, email <producer@galapagosartspace.com>

Warm regards,

Robert Elmes
Director, Galapagos Art Space