September 21, 2020 – Normally around this time, we’d be launching a “season” filled with “performances” for “human beings” gathering in “spaces”. Embracing the unknown unknowns* of the present (and unprecedented) moment, we’ve decided instead to simply announce the cohort of artists whose work we will support within the next 12 months:

Martita Abril, Justin Allen (with Taja Cheek and Savannah Harris, co-presentation with Issue Project Room), luciana achugar (co-commission with PICA), Laurie Berg, Leslie Cuyjet, Daria Faïn, Larissa Velez-Jackson, Millie Kapp + Matt Shalzi, Sibyl Kempson (co-commission with Abrons Arts Center), Andrea Kleine, Abigail Levine, Aya Ogawa (co-presentation with Japan Society), Angie Pittman, and David Thomson will each receive financial, technical and administrative support to conduct artistic research and/or create new work. Having invested in short term facilities upgrades to meet COVID safety guidelines, The Chocolate Factory’s current and (as yet unrenovated) future spaces will be made available to these artists on an ongoing basis throughout the next 12 months.

The Chocolate Factory’s commitment to these artists is open-ended and will extend into the coming year(s) as needed. More importantly – “results” are not the goal. Certain projects will manifest as films, publications, online performances, installations and outdoor events; others will live as research and/or will adapt to meet the artists’ changing needs and goals as public health and economic circumstances – and our shared realities – continue to evolve.

With major support from the Lambent Foundation, in 2020/2021 The Chocolate Factory will expand its pioneering commitment to addressing labor conditions within the independent performing arts community by paying all lead artists, performers, designers and technicians a fair hourly wage, on the books, for all rehearsal and production hours within our spaces – more than doubling our direct financial support for artists.

Supported creative residencies for Martita Abril, Matt Shalzi + Millie Kapp, and Angie Pittman are curated by Blaze Ferrer.

* Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, 2002