On January 1st, Meow Wolf opened applications for the DIY Fund, a $100,000 annual fund used to support DIY art and music spaces across the country. But since then, a more pressing need has become apparent in Santa Fe's hometown of Denver.
In partnership with Denver Arts & Venues pledging $20,000 to support DIY spaces in the city, Meow Wolf is partnering with two of Denver's most beloved DIY spaces, Rhinoceropolis and We are proud to announce $20,000 in matching funds directed specifically to Glob. Recent closures due to city ordinance violations. In the wake of the Ghost Ship tragedy in Oakland in December, these violations have come under a heightened microscope.
This gift from Meow Wolf will also support Amplify Arts, a newly formed initiative to unite Denver's artist community for support and opportunity. These funds are distributed directly to support rent, utilities, building costs, and the cost of constructing the space to comply with code.
Meow Wolf has been a DIY art and music community since 2008, and we've had a long-standing brotherhood with Rhinoceropolis. Meow Wolf was fortunate to have support from investors and mentors, and the project in Santa Fe led to a profitable scenario. It also pushed us into a situation where we were able to gain critical infrastructure essentials and a lot of critical infrastructure knowledge. A cumbersome process faced by the DIY community. We would like to share these resources directly with his DIY community such as his Rhinoceropolis and Glob.
Meow Wolf knows how difficult it is to run an alternative venue that builds authentic creative communities. There are so many pressures to homogenize, so many pressures to be absorbed into disconnected, conventional ways of living and being. Rapidly rising rent costs and a lack of creative economic opportunities are forcing artists out of the city. These communities are forced into difficult scenarios and face hurdles that threaten their survival. Chief among these hurdles are both funding and general knowledge of rights and processes. We stand in solidarity with creative communities and recognize them as important components of a healthy society.
To support Rhinoceropolis and Glob directly, visit https://www.gofundme.com/rebuild-rhinoceropolis.