Our MISSION
The Electric Lodge is a laboratory for artists and environmentalists. We engage our community through the visual and performing arts, innovative classes, programs and seminars, providing experiential contexts and opportunities for dialogue. The Electric Lodge is a torch bearer in the effort to stimulate public understanding and support for the creation of a sustainable worldwide eco-system.
Description
The Electric Lodge — being at the convergence of artistic and environmental awareness — is a sanctuary, a place where artists and environmentalists originate, gestate, develop and present performance and ideas.
It is an outlet for the community; plugging in to the current of the times by providing a wide array of seminars, salons and classes from the martial arts to the dramatic arts, from Mommy & Me to Swing Brazil.
Through our Arts Earth Partnership and other programs we become a nexus for a network of environmentally friendly cultural facilities, performing arts companies and individual artists in Los Angeles and across the country, uniquely manifesting our identity as the place where artistic and environmental ideas are presented and explored.
We subsidize our community of artists and thinkers through a generous program managed by the Board of Directors at the discretion of the Artistic Director. This program allows for co-productions at substantially reduced rates for artists and organizations that may not otherwise have the resources to bring their ideas to life. If interested in submitting a proposal for a rental or co-production please contact us.
History
The Lodge was built by the Masons in 1940 and used for several decades. After the masons abandoned the building, it was purchased in 1996 and given an extensive renovation with environmental sustainability in mind, being carefully equipped to handle a wide array of community and private uses such as professional drama, yoga, dance, music, photography, classes, staged readings, art exhibitions, independent video shoots, screenings, environmental education and more. We are conveniently equipped with two lobby areas, 1100 sq. ft dance studio, dressing rooms and a small commercial kitchen as well as ample on-site parking.
We are currently the only full service performing and visual center in Venice, California.
The Electric Lodge was conscientiously created to be environmentally friendly and is one of the first "solar-powered" performing arts facilities in the country, producing roughly 30% of our energy from the sun while the remaining needed energy is wind power purchased from LA DWP's "Green Power" Program.
Our extensive list of user groups have been honored with several awards and critical acclaim in almost all mediums and the demand for use has grown steadily with every passing year. Currently, we are honored to be, or have been, the home of 4 Venice based, 'Resident Artist Groups'. Three of which have been part of the Lodge since its new beginning in 1996. These "Founding Artist Groups" are Venice Theatre Works (theater); Internationally acclaimed Butoh artist Oguri and his Body Weather Laboratory (dance) and internationally acclaimed percussionist/composer Adam Rudolph and his Go:Organic Orchestra and Vashti percussion ensemble (music). The fourth group is the newest addition to the resident family; the critically acclaimed Apartment A (theater). These four entities have made up the core of our annual artistic seasons, providing a steady stream of diverse and professional productions year round. As Apartment A's residency ended in 2007, we are now open to new residencies in theater.
The Theatre also serves as a rental house, hosting many other performing companies and events. Examples include the popular Padua Playwrights and Workshop 360's theater productions as well as the ever expanding The Other Venice Film Festival, and The Bicycle Men. Visiting companies have included the critically acclaimed Drunken Monkey's from Portland, Oregon, the Flamenco dance and music company Aire, and several children's presentations.
The diverse and exciting educational and explorative side of the Lodge encompasses classes and workshops in several forms of acting, dance and movement as well as classes for children and seniors.
Our environmental legacy is blossoming. Visit our Eco-stage Initiatives.