Monday, August 27, 2012

Website aims to help artists space out

 

Nycpaspaces.org launches as a place where artists can find, schedule and rent performance and rehearsal space; and organizations can produce revenues from their underutilized space.

A new website makes it easier for performers to tap into space quickly while offering the organizations leasing it the opportunity to generate some extra cash from an asset that might have sat idle otherwise.
Updated: August 27, 2012 4:32 p.m.
It's hard enough for anyone to find real estate in the city, but for artists, who often have not just limited budgets but odd needs in terms of the timing of the space they need, the search can be all but impossible.
Now a nonprofit is trying to make it easier for them to find, schedule and rent performance and rehearsal space. Last week, Fractured Atlas, an arts service organization, launched NYC Performing Arts Spaces at nycpaspaces.org, which allows artists to search for space using a variety of their own requirements from dates and times, to location and price.
"We are like an Open Table for the arts world," said Adam Huttler, the executive director of Fractured Atlas.
He said there is a chronic shortage of rehearsal and performance space in the city and that it is especially difficult to find on short notice. The website makes it easier for performers to tap into space quickly while offering the organizations leasing it the opportunity to generate some extra cash from an asset that might have sat idle otherwise.
"Now instead of making 50 calls for find space, you can make just one," Mr. Huttler said.
The product was in testing for about six months before its official launch last week. So far, 1,090 organizations in all five boroughs have listed space on the site.
Organizations pay $20 a month to list their space. When an arts' group rents the space, Fractured Atlas keeps 1.5% of the transaction's cost.
Mr. Huttler says Fractured Atlas doesn't view the service as a major revenue generator, but it does need to charge to cover the cost of running and maintaining the site.


Read more: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20120827/REAL_ESTATE/120829912#ixzz24oELK04F