Galapagos Art Space Plans Include Bar

Galapagos Art Space, an artists enclave from Brooklyn, New York, is coming to Highland Park and Corktown, but plans for renovations to the organization's recently purchased properties still leave something to the imagination. Galapagos in Brooklyn was a performance arts venue with a bar, but what of the future Motor City iteration?

Galapagos director Robert Elmes says the new Detroit venue will include a bar. "We consider the bar component our 'self funding mechanism' and it encourages audiences to stay after a show," Elmes says, adding that the bar creates fosters easier interactions between artists and audiences.

"Traditionally in the performing arts the dance company has to rush out to their audience right after a show and arrange what restaurant they'll all go to and push tables together in a big long line and only have conversations with the person next to or across from them. Instead of having a bored theater crew trying to push everyone out the door we encourage people to stay and try to create an extended interaction between artists and audience. This enables both sides of the performance—audience and artists—to communicate about the work in ways they need to do in order to gain the most from the experience.

It also means that the dance company, or orchestra, or band, can take their time and arrange themselves before coming out. We think that this model makes great sense, especially in a city where many might be coming in a car and not simply walking home."

For more details on the development of Galapagos, head over to our sister site Curbed.