After seven years of dynamic community arts programming (including over 600 public performances!), the Subterranean Arthouse closed at the end of January 2016.

On a whim in 2009, Claire Duplantier Burns and Nicole Rodriguez, cofounded Subterranean Arthouse as a site for artists to develop new work, perform, rehearse, collaborate and move between disciplines. In the years that followed, Subterranean Arthouse steadily increased its visibility and found its footing as a avenue focused on presenting new and experimental performance. 

In 2015, the cofounders transitioned the Arthouse to become a collectively run project in the hopes of ushering in a long term, fiscally sustainable organizational model. The collective continued the vision of the space, bringing a variety of movement oriented classes and workshops to the fore of the Arthouse. Despite these efforts, there were a few insurmountable constraints confronting the project. The primary reason for closing the Arthouse was a handful of new and unreasonable requirements mandated by the building’s owner including a 60% rent increase, a tenuous lease agreement and a soundproof remodel of the space. While we have great appreciation for the years of below market rent, these new requests added up to an untenable future.

Artistically, we could not be more pleased with the success of the Subterranean Arthouse. A thriving seven-year run is no small matter for any kind of collective endeavor – especially an all-volunteer one. The community built around the Subterranean Arthouse has beautifully impacted countless lives, and East Bay culture has been richer for the intimate, experimental, and supportive space that the Arthouse provided.

We would like to publicly thank every person (and there are thousands of you!) who contributed to the Subterranean Arthouse. Whether you volunteered, attended shows, performed, donated, or served on the board, we owe the success of this incredible, creative venture to you.

THANK YOU.

With great love, we say farewell.