Attack Theatre, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, and PearlArts Movement & Sound Launch Equitable Access to Rehearsal Infrastructure in Pittsburgh
onStage Pittsburgh - Attack Theatre, Kelly Strayhorn Theater (KST), and PearlArts Movement & Sound have launched Place to Space, a shared initiative and pilot program offering subsidized rehearsal space to expand equitable access to professional performing artists throughout Pittsburgh.
“Our organizations have collaborated artistically for more than a decade, but this initiative provides a new opportunity to strengthen our relationships with independent artists in our communities,” said Melanie Paglia, Co-Executive Director of the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty. “Place to Space is what happens when we prioritize impact over individual success. Together with PearlArts Movement & Sound and Attack Theatre, we can combine our resources and provide critical support to artists by investing in their ability to shape, share, and sustain their work.”
Inspired by the Mellon Foundation’s creation of the NYC Rehearsal Subsidy Program in 2011, Attack Theatre, KST, and PearlArts are formally aligning space access and systems to address rehearsal affordability as a collective responsibility rather than a competitive resource. Together, the three organizations will support approximately 100 artists annually and provide more than a thousand hours of subsidized rehearsal access.
“Operating across Braddock, Friendship, and Lawrenceville, Place to Space offers access to high-quality, wheelchair-accessible studios for artists preparing performances, commissions, auditions, and new work,” the arts organizations said in a joint statement. “The initiative responds to a growing and urgent challenge in creative communities nationwide: rehearsal space, a foundational part of artistic labor, is increasingly inaccessible.
“PearlArts Movement & Sound builds dynamic partnerships that expand access and opportunity for artists across the region. Place to Space addresses a primary barrier to career advancement for Pittsburgh artists,” adds Staycee Pearl, Co-Executive/Artistic Director, PearlArts Movement & Sound.
Thanks to support from The Heinz Endowment, each organization will receive a subsidy to underwrite 390–530 hours of rehearsal time per location. Through this funding, artists benefit from significantly reduced studio rates. Artists can reserve studio time at $5 per hour on weekdays and $10 per hour on weekends at the three participating locations:
• KST’s Alloy Studios (5530 Penn Avenue in Friendship) — Two 1,650-square-foot studios with sprung floors, marley, mirrors, and adaptable rehearsal configurations.
• PearlArts Movement & Sound (818 Braddock Avenue in Braddock) — Two movement-centered studios supporting both ensemble creation and intimate artistic development.
• Attack Theatre (212 45th Street in Lawrenceville) — A 2,800-square-foot sprung-floor studio and a 1,000-square-foot Creative Learning Lab designed for experimentation and rehearsal.
Artists interested in booking space can review studio specifications and follow booking instructions through the respective studio’s website.
“Artists are too often asked to endure systems that weren’t designed for them. When we invest in shared infrastructure like rehearsal space, we reduce barriers and affirm that creative labor deserves stability and support,” said Andrés Franco, Executive Director of Attack Theatre. “Sustaining artists means sustaining the cultural life of our neighborhoods.”
For more information on Place to Space visit: https://www.placetospace.org