Galapagos Art Space, which started as a fascinatingly designed space complete with a waterfall in hipster Williamsburg, is now open at 15 Main Street in DUMBO. The space is the first certified LEED green cultural venue in New York City. Now that’s a distinction.

The new space is sure to have an interesting design. And interesting programming. I was told about (but forgot to post about) the DUMBO Kite Flying Society, a monthly event for kids. The first one was last weekend at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Brooklyn Based has an interesting interview with Robert Elmes, the director of Galapagos Art Space. Aside from interesting programming, the space has an interesting mission:

The most basic function of the arts is to be relevant in   the advancement of society.
 

Galapagos does not accept government grants or public funding of any
kind. We believe that if the work we present is strong, communicative,
and effective, we will survive.
 

If we don’t produce strong, communicative and effective work then we
won’t survive – we’re not feeding the hungry: we make art. If we can’t
be grown-up about that  and stand up on our own, then we don’t think
we’d have anything interesting to tell you anyway.
 

This is New York City. One of the greatest cultural cities to have ever
risen; perhaps the greatest. We’re not sitting around dreaming of the
grant we applied for.
 

          We have our whole lives to live and that is   terribly important.
 

          Culture should reflect that   clearly.

The following is an excerpt from their website as to why they had to leave Williamsburg. Hint: They may be the first cultural institution that was priced out of Williambsurg and got a better deal in DUMBO (thanks to Two Trees and David Walentas).

We love Williamsburg, we were born here in 1995, but we simply can’t afford to remain in Williamsburg and produce the work that we feel is our most valuable contribution to the cultural ecosystem of New York City.

In December 2005 our rent went up by $10,000.00 a month.

Now, in order to extend our lease past November, our landlord requires a 30%
increase in rent.

As a venue, our core responsibility is to create audiences for the artists we present and help expand the cultural environment for the benefit of the community we live in.

In DUMBO we’ll be able to present the theater, dance, performance art, music, cinema, lectures / literary events, and the non profit fundraising that we believe is our core mission and the most important contribution we can make to our community.

It must be said that our landlords are lovely people who, way back in 1995, gave us an opportunity that no one else was willing to offer. The rent increases they’ve offered us are, incredibly, still below the market rate.

We’ll be working with them to make sure that 70 North 6 Street remains a venue of cultural significance and doesn’t become the North 6 Street’s next American Apparel or, god forbid, a Starbucks.