Dear Free Range Friends:

The year 2000 was a sad one for Free Range Arts. Most of the year was spent trying to save the rehearsal/performance space on 26th Street in Manhattan -- to no avail.

In March 2000, the landlord of our space on 26th Street informed us that he would be raising the rent considerably. In the summer he decided the amount would more than triple. Due to the assistance of Kent Karlsson, a wonderful lawyer who worked for Free Range on a pro bono basis, we were able to stay past the August deadline. But sadly, our space closed on November 1st, after supporting the dance and performance community for seven and a half years.

The space was a very important part of the community, providing a total of 21,700 hours to over 650 choreographers and dancers. In 1999, Free Range was recognized by the Department of Cultural Affairs/New York City with a grant of $7000. I can't tell you how many people, including myself, are heart broken over its closing.

On a more positive note, while the legal battle was ongoing, I was able to offer the Choreographers' Lecture-Demo Series for the Children's After School Program of Hudson Guild. Choreographers Erica Murkofsky, Patricia Hoffbauer, and Tim Hadel taught classes in choreography to the children who had never heard of modern dance. This program received its first grant from the Creative Communities Fund.

At this point the Board and myself will be taking some time to decide what the future of Free Range Arts will be, and the programs that will be offered. I will be looking around for space share situations, and I plan to speak to the Department of Cultural Affairs to see if the application pending can be transferred to another rehearsal space. There is also the possibility of raising money for space grants to Independent Choreographers. We also hope to continue the video programming on Manhattan Neighborhood Network.

So, in the words of my grandmother Frances, "what can I say?" Somehow Free Range Arts will continue to provide services to the community. At this point I would like to say thank you all for your support and generosity over the last seven and a half years. You have made a tremendous difference to the many choreographers and dancers Free Range has served.

Wishing you a wonderful and healthy 2001,

Dale Fournier
Executive Director

P.S. Free Range's new mailing address is 245 8th Avenue, NY, NY 10011. The phone and fax number are the same.