Four teams of Madison-area artists—representing diverse artistic disciplines and backgrounds—will create two summers of programming and exhibitions at Arts + Literature Laboratory (ALL) and other participating community spaces. LAB^4 forges a new path for ALL’s program development by fully embracing intersectionality across artistic disciplines, identities, and ideas. Above all else, the LAB^4 project seeks to shift the role of curators from gatekeepers to their original definition as caretakers.
Each LAB^4 team is given a budget to support the curation of innovative art and development of workshops, performances, readings, and collaborative projects. Teams will also have resources to bring local artists into conversation with regional and national artists.
This initiative is made possible by The Ruth Foundation for the Arts, who selected ALL as one of 10 recipients of their 2024 Special Project Grants. Ruth Arts praised ALL’s “emphasis on public knowledge sharing and uplifting historically underrepresented communities, [ALL’s] commitment to equitable partnerships, and for encouraging creative change within this region.”
LAB^4 Curators
Team 1: Matt Blair, Matthew Braunginn, Danielle Dresden, Liz Levine, Emily Popp, Deshawn McKinney, and two highschool-aged artists.
Team 2: Dan Fitch, Autumn Jocas, Nicole Rago, Meghan Rosing, and two highschool-aged artists.
Team 3: Pawan Benjamin, Elias Mittelstadt, Charles Payne, Rae Sowards, LaShawn M. Wanak, Katherine Zlabek, and one highschool-aged artist.
Team 4: Ariana Gutierrez, Rose Heflin, Adriana Peguero, Matt Witosky, and two highschool-aged artists.
LAB^4 Showcase Schedule
Team 1: April 29–June 21, 2025
Team 2: July 8–August 29, 2025
Team 3: April 28–June 20, 2026
Team 4: July 7–August 29, 2026
