Former resident artist Nami Yamamoto was the first to touch BAX's new studio floor in May 2007

Dance Performance Workshop students stretch on new studio floor before class

The lobby on BAX's second floor

The waiting room on BAX's second floor

Hardhats from BAX's official construction team (Co-op Tech students)

THE BAX BUILDING —your arts center

In February 2008, BAX began its 17th year of providing dance & theater classes, adult and family programs, artist opportunities and services, performances and rehearsal space. BAX serves over 8,000 students, artists and audiences each year. At the heart of BAX is the commitment to remain an invaluable resource and to strive to make our programs accessible to all.

Last January, we signed a lease to take an additional floor in our existing building and have named our space THE BAX BUILDING. This expansion represents an extraordinary opportunity and will secure a viable and vibrant future for the organization.

We have established a $600,000 campaign that includes the building of two new rehearsal/class studios, an education office, faculty lounge, conference/screening room, public waiting room, artists dressing room, improvements to our stairwell and exterior, and establishes a cash reserve for the organization.

How does the expansion affect you? More useable space has already made it possible to:

• Provide 15 more classes (making a total of 45 for young people in the first year) and substantially more scholarships to insure that no one gets turned away
• Double our studio space - from two studios to four
• Double the number of slots available in our summer arts programs
• Offer subsidized space to community groups and independent dance & theater companies
• Establish a weekday reading series of new plays
• And there is so much more to come!

Here's a recount of what has been happening behind the scenes to create THE BAX BUILDING:

• January 2007 - Learned that the second floor of 421 Fifth Avenue would be available and signed a long term lease for the space
• February 2007 - Met the folks from The School of Cooperative Education and agreed to work with their high school students as our construction crew and received a leading gift from the Independence Community Foundation.
• March 2007 - Had a work party attended by families, artists, board and community members and completed the demolition our second floor
• April 2007 - mounted THE BAX BULDING campaign and continued the work
• May 2007 - Howlin' Vic Artist Benefit raised $5,000 and both second- floor studios were opened for rehearsals
• June 2007 - Raised $15,000 from individual contributors, worked at a furious pace to get space ready for the summer programs
• July 2007 - Opened space for summer programs, doubled the number of students attending; introduced independent artist performance packages which are fully booked - a huge success for all; received support from the Brooklyn Borough President/Department of Cultural Affairs for the initial outfitting of a new space
• August 2007 - Worked at another furious pace to get space ready for fall programming
• September 2007 - Opened fall semester, increased number of classes by 15 and rehearsal space by more than a third; celebrated the THE BAX BUILDING with 150 of our friends and supporters; received funding for the project from New York Community Trust; raised $30,000 in additional individual support.
• October 2007 - Welcomed back our student construction team from Co-op Tech to begin renovation of third floor, hallways and lobby
• November 2007 - received support from Seedco ArtsBusiness Initiative, completed demolition and framing on third floor
• December 2007 - Happily included Assemblywoman Joan Millman as a BAX BUILDER with capital support funding
• January 2008 to present - Continue work on third floor

WHAT'S LEFT TO DO?

• Final stages of electricity upgrade and fixtures for hallways, lobby, landings and third floor
• Storage for a variety of spaces on second and third floors
• Sound baffles for second floor studios
• Painting for the third floor as well as hallways, stairwells, lobby, landings
• Flooring and sanding/finishing existing floors in third floor offices, hallways, performer dressing room, restrooms
• Modernization of restrooms
• Completion of 2nd floor kitchen; Repair/modernization of third floor kitchen (countertops, new & refaced cabinets)
• Facade of building, door, gate
• Exterior/interior signage/directories/display
• Furnishings, window coverings, incidentals for offices, artist conference room, dressing room
• Establish our cash reserve

This project has received the generous support of the Independence Community Foundation, Community Funds Inc. - LuEsther Mertz Advised Fund, New York Community Trust, Seedco Financial Services ArtBusiness Initiative, and The Brooklyn Borough President in cooperation with the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and Assemblywoman Joan L. Millman as well as hundred of individual supporters.


[top]




Photo: BAX BUILDERS - students from School of Cooperative Technical Education by BAX staff