The Labyrinth Art Collective

Dearest community,

As many of you know, the Van Ness village building which houses the LAByrinth Art Collective as well as our beloved neighbors Spokeasy Public House and Jazzy Jeans recently experienced a devastating fire. The LAB building experienced extensive damage to our storage area, green room, and theater, and we are unfortunately closed until further notice.

For those of you who know and have come show love for what you have experienced, not only within these walls but through the extension of the beloved community that has sprouted here, we are truly touched by the outpouring of love and support we’ve received, and that in and of itself has helped more than words can express.

Thank you all.

For those who may not know who we are, allow us to (re)introduce ourselves.

The LAB is not just a venue. The LAB is a queer run, queer-led space of color dedicated to the fortification of community through art. It is one of very few of its kind in not only Fresno, but California’s Central Valley. We have refused to compromise the heart and soul of what makes safe, inclusive, expressive space, and have strived to create a home for community connection and social awareness through art since its inception. We’ve had the honor of hosting countless events and run the space as a labor of love for the past several years, investing significant time, energy, and finances into the mission of building a community space. We have provided programming as an entity since 2016, procured our brick and mortar spot in 2021 following a pandemic and 2 year long fight to defend our local gayborhood. In 2022 we were able to officially establish our collective as a non-profit for the purpose of being able to expand our ability to provide the community with opportunities to learn, create, experiment, and empower through art. In spite of significant challenges, including this most recent event, we remain committed to doing so.

Our neighbors at Spokeasy are not just a one of a kind locally run craft beer bar, they are a neighborhood staple, a gathering place that is a second home for many, and we want to see them not only stay there, but thrive.

Jazzy Jeans ‘n Things is a long time local Black owned business that does not need to weather yet another hardship.

We want our block to remain the staple that it has grown to be.

Many of you have asked how you can help.

We invite you to dream with us.

Imagine longevity for community space.

Imagine our neighbors being able to continue business without worrying about rent hikes or uncertainty in tenancy. Imagine a community in Fresno truly pulling together to model what community truly means, for benefit and propagation for years to come. Imagine the saplings of community we’ve all sown together becoming the plentiful tree it could be, a trailblazing concept for our community at large…

Where will your dollars go?

At this point in time, weighing the situation at hand with the building and possibility for it, we are pursuing two main options, both of which will require funds, and while the amount may seem large, it is but a small price for longevity and the dream of true community space.

Scenario 1:

Should the owner continue to proceed with repairs as planned, these will be of course to bring the building to specs required for occupancy and no further, we would still need to invest in updates, such as:

-New A/C units and ducting

-improved safety measures

-updated ventilation system

-flooring costs

-theater and stage repairs

-lighting and sound equipment needs

-ADA updates

-smoke mitigation

-extensive cosmetic repairs and updates for viability

-electrical updates

-insulation

Scenario 2:

NOW HERE IS THE BIG DREAM. The idea of acquiring the property has been presented to us, and we are currently exploring avenues to make this possible. If this were to occur, we would need to take on all of the items mentioned above plus more in depth electrical, structural, and cosmetic repairs, and of course costs associated with acquiring the building.

Now this would be an undertaking for sure, but one that we find deeply aligned with our soul-fueled mission of truly strengthening community, of making sure the current tenants, including ourselves, can continue to not only operate, but be able to grow, thrive, and dream big with our one of a kind, amazing as all hell community.

Art and third space for good.

Locally run businesses with security.

Property in community control.

A direction toward the world many of us dream of.

JUST IMAGINE.

Any contribution helps, any share helps. Dream big with us, for all of us!

In love and solidarity,

The LAByrinth Art Collective

The LAByrinth Art Collective began as a cathartic playground years ago in the form of a live art and performance event, a haven for the weird and the dreamer in a world that isn't always hospitable to such.

In recent years we acquired a brick and mortar spot in Fresno's historic Tower District, at a time when aside from increasing uncertainty in the world, our very home community had fought hard to preserve its art and entertainment district from the possibility of non-affirming entities who attempted to change the entire fabric of the community. Knowing this little black box theater was empty, we couldn't bear to see another space at risk.

Our mission then remains the same now: to provide accessible space to local and traveling artists and performers to both dream and realize those dreams in the form of visual and performing arts, community gathering and support, and uplifting marginalized voices to better fortify and build connections in our local community and beyond.

What started as a passion project began to grow, and we have both hosted and produced events, including theater, comedy, poetry, community meetings, art hop, dance, fringe theater (in the form of hosting shows as an Off-Rogue venue for Fresno's annual Rogue festival), LitHop(Fresno's annual free literature festival), art receptions and more!

We have poured an incredible amount of hard work and literal blood, sweat and tears, art, music, community building, shenanigans, and so much fun into the thing that "The LAB" is becoming. But as with any growth, there is a balance of expansion and resource(and old Tower District buildings). It's been a fabulous ride, and we are so excited to step into the next phase of 'The Labyrinth Art Collective'.

What we would like to accomplish with your help:

-Expand air conditioning/heating to the entire facility

-Updates for ADA compliance and further accessibility such as streaming capability

-Updates for light and sound equipment, and procurement of technical support for community events

-Capacity for more community supportive events at low or no cost

-Updates to security provisions

-Modernization of booking structures and administrative supports

-General facility operation and maintenance to optimize safety and reduce emergent repairs

-Operations costs

The LAB is an idea, an ideal, a safe space, a creative incubator, and a good fun time for everyone who is into original, inquisitive, inclusive and free expression of radical ideas and art. It's pretty evident that our ask will barely touch the wish list, but the community has shown up in huge ways, and we are striving to give it space to enjoy it even more!

Thank you for your gracious support!