Beth Boone describes her vision for the Light Box at Goldman Warehouse (without the pesky pole made famous in the old Light Box Studio).

For 20 years, the Miami Light Project has programmed some of the most bracing work to come to town and commissioned many of the most inspiring performance pieces created by local artists. Now director Beth Boone is trying to take that support a step further with a shared space for arts groups to pool back office costs and boost creative synergy. With $400,000 each from the Knight Arts Challenge and developer and arts patron Tony Goldman, she’s asking for potential co-conspirators to send in proposals (jump to the bottom to see the full request for proposals).

MIAMI LIGHT PROJECT AND GOLDMAN PROPERTIES ANNOUNCEMENT

FIELD WIDE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS – Submission deadline: FEBRUARY 26, 2010

Cultural organizations in all disciplines are invited to submit proposals to participate as collaborative partners in a new project,

The Light Box at Goldman Warehouse.

PROJECT BACKGROUND AND VISION

In November 2009, Miami Light Project (MLP) and Goldman Properties were awarded a three year, $400,000 challenge grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation (The Knight Arts Challenge) to create The Light Box at Goldman Warehouse. With these initial funds from The Knight Foundation, and matching support from visionary developer Tony Goldman (Goldman Properties), MLP will develop a multi tenant, mixed use performance and visual art space in the Wynwood Arts District (www.wynwood.com), in Miami, FL. The Light Box at Goldman Warehouse is located at 404 NW 26th Street in a long dormant light industrial neighborhood filled with warehouses. In recent years, these warehouses have been re-purposed and turned into galleries and alternative artist work spaces in the wake of the world-wide success of Art Basel Miami Beach.

The Light Box at Goldman Warehouse has 12,000 square feet of beautiful, wide open, raw space: polished concrete floors, open ceilings with exposed ductwork, dedicated parking, and many building upgrades (new roof, a/c, security, and sprinkler) which were made over the past 5 years when the space was an annex for the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami.

We intend to use the Knight Foundation Challenge Grant funds to build a flexible studio theater, a rehearsal space, a flexible art gallery and open joint offices that will provide much needed affordable space for approximately 4-6 community based cultural organizations. The specific floor plan will be finalized upon determination of initial project partners.

We are seeking like-minded organizations to enter into initial four (4) year leases, with an option to renew for four years, and to share in the realization of this project – it is designed to provide a space that is financially sustainable and supportive of the work of artists and cultural workers alike.

KEY TO PARTICIPATION IN THE LIGHT BOX AT GOLDMAN WAREHOUSE: Organizations must be have a flexible approach to utilization of this shared space; make a minimum time and financial commitment in the form of a legally binding lease with scheduled rent payments. Additionally, organizations must have full board support, a demonstrated ability to make a commitment to on time rent payments and a commitment to collaboration.

HOW TO APPLY

I.) Submit a ONE PAGE (NO EXCEPTIONS) letter with the following:

1. Name of organization, contact person for your project, and website;

2. A brief history of organization’s recent activities and accomplishments;

3. A brief explanation of the role your organization plays in the community and whom you serve;

4. Identify 3 artists, companies or projects that you will be working on in 2011 and 2012;

5. Discuss your ability to work compatibly with other organizations of different capacities and aesthetic interests;

6. Describe a successful outreach activity, community event, or audience-artist interface you’ve facilitated.

7. Describe how many weeks per year your programs are active and break out the weeks according to type of activity and what your space needs are per activity.

II.) Additionally, on accompanying pages, submit:

1. Your 2010 board approved annual operating budget

2. Your most recently completed audit

3. A copy of your 2008 and 2009 990

The process:

· Submission deadline: FEBRUARY 26, 2010 Electronic submission only

· By APRIL 23, 2010 – Announcement of 4-6 organizations to enter into leases

· Build out of space June-August

· Sept. 2010 Groups Move in (anticipated)

· January 2011, programming begins

IMPORTANT INFO:

We are planning to create a diverse group with diverse interests to participate in this project.

UPON RECEIPT OF ALL APPLICATIONS, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A SITE VISIT WILL BE ARRANGED.

Please direct inquiries to [email protected], or call 305-576-4350.

You will receive notification of receipt of your application. Please call or email if you do not receive this notification.