LOCALadk Magazine
Issue link: https://localadkmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1480404
LOCALadk 51 "Some of the pieces for auction are actually collaborat- ed pieces created for other art events we did," Jabaut said. "They came to us and said things like, "Oh, I have this piece from five years ago that I made for the dance event you put on that I was a part of, so I am going to donate this work." At the time of writing this piece, the fundraiser raised $47,050 in just over two weeks. As Andrew and Jabaut continue to move through the ren- ovation of the Ausable Theater, the purpose and mission be- hind the space remains their greatest focus: using the theater to uplift the community and keep art accessible, whether it be music, dance, theater, or film. " When people think about the arts, and they think about the theater, and dance and ballet and whatever, the first thing they think about is, ' Well, how much is that ticket go- ing to cost? How am I going to get my kids and my family in- volved? '" Andrew said. "So often, it's just not accessible. But here, we're really tr ying to aim for accessibility." "There's this real curatorial aspect to art which can be great, but that doesn't mean it needs to be rare or it has to be difficult to find," Jabaut added. Not only are Andrew and Jabaut tr ying to make the arts more accessible through affordable pricing and geographic proximity, but they are also tr ying to touch upon various lev- els and genres in order to collectively involve a wide range of artists and audiences alike. " We're looking for ward to putting on ever ything from the grade-school choir to Juilliard's summer touring music or dance program," Jabaut said. " We want to bring the world's best and also have complete amature. That helps to let peo- ple know that you can't have world-class without having someone who is just starting out. You can have [art] on so many levels. It can be a pop-up show on a sidewalk or now a theater, and these things enrich a community." The two are also aiming to simply give people another thing to do within their own community. " We are looking at the people who are looking for a third space," Jabaut said. "Maybe they go to the bar and maybe they go shopping, and now maybe they go, 'Let's go to the theater and see what crazy show they are putting on today.'"