Eighteen years ago, AS220's first permanent home, the Empire Street complex, opened its doors to the public. Perishable Theatre, Groundwerx Dance Company and a group of resident artists joined AS220's galleries and performance space, helping to fill the 21,000 square foot building with creative energy. Together, we helped build the foundation for the City's 1996 establishment of a downtown Arts and Entertainment District.

It is with melancholia, as well as gratitude for their contributions to the creative community and for years of successful partnership, that we announce the dissolution of Perishable Theatre. Following diligent efforts to restructure the company in the face of current economic realities, Perishable has reluctantly concluded that the best, most responsible course of action is to end operations. Under the advisement of consultants and in cooperation with AS220, Perishable Theatre has crafted a strategic plan to transfer the assets and stewardship of 95 Empire to AS220 effective January 2012.

Preserving the vital and unique theatrical resources of the black box theater for the many performance groups that depend on the space has been a central priority both for Perishable, as it ends operations, and for AS220, as it continues to support and encourage vital artistic activity at 95 Empire Street.

AS220 appreciates the unique role played by Perishable as a "research & development theatre", nurturing new arrivals and early career professionals in the performing arts. Over the last 28 years, the Theatre has produced and presented scores of innovative original performances. Perishable was a natural partner to AS220; their work resonated with the organization's mission to provide an unjuried and uncensored space where artists can learn, work, create, produce, and perform their original art. AS220 believes an open forum for performance, where experimentation is part of the mission directly serves artists and the public-at-large while fueling innovation in the arts. It is with this conviction and sincere enthusiasm that AS220 announces the 2012 launch of AS220's newest program, 95 Empire.

The mission of 95 Empire is to offer a home for the activities of diverse individuals and groups working in the field, including and surpassing the role of a presenting venue. 95 Empire will support a core collective of new and emerging companies, while providing affordable education, quality audience experiences, and access to the resources of a theater and dance studio to the community-at-large.

In addition to presentations of original works by resident companies with the 95 Empire Performance Collective, AS220 staff charged with managing the program will coordinate special events and a late-night performance series featuring individual artists, local troupes and itinerate theater and dance groups from around the state. The 95 Empire facilities, which include: classroom space, a black-box theater and a dance studio, will also be made available at affordable rental rates as scheduling permits.

AS220 will also develop and run new educational programs under the umbrella of the 95 Empire Theater Arts School. AS220 plans to offer the entry and intermediate level courses Perishable's Theatre Arts School built its reputation on, while expanding the breadth of 95 Empire's educational programs to include advanced professional development workshops and expert-led intensives. In addition to the regular roster of affordable classes, each resident company in the Collective will create two single-session public workshops per season, which will be offered free-of-charge to underserved members of the community.