Factory on 5th Art Space

Factory on 5th Art Space

Address: 1715 5th St. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87203
Email:
Jerry W. Miller Jermiller1@hotmail.com
David Cudney dbcudney@dbcudney.com
Phone:
Jerry W. Miller 505-463-5824
David Cudney 505-977-9643
website: www.factoryon5.com

How is the project operated? For-profit, nonprofit, artist-run, etc.
For-profit art space.
How long has it been in existence?
The project was originally conceived as a live/work warehouse condominium conversion when KPM LLC, a partnership of Ken Krause, Stephan Protzen, and Jerry Miller purchased the property in 2003.
What was your motivation?
Originally the Lembke Construction Co. warehouse, the property consisted of 1.5-acre of land and two buildings covering 20,000 sq. ft. When the property was originally purchased, several rooms where turned into artist workspace to help pay the mortgage while plans for the condo conversion where developed. The workspaces were quickly rented and it soon became apparent that there was a demand for inexpensive workspace in the Albuquerque area. Due to the high cost to build and the real estate collapse, the condo project was shelved and a new mission was developed.
“The Factory” now has 34 rental workspaces, three large gallery spaces, and “The Kosmos” coffee bar/performance space. Clientele and media include jewelers, potters, painters, writers, multimedia artists, poets, mosaics, and stained glass. The Gallery spaces at the factory include the cavernous 1500 sq. ft. 5G Gallery with 20 ft. vaulted ceilings, the 600 sq. ft. 5G North Gallery and the 450 sq. ft. 5G South Gallery.
How are programs funded? (membership fees, public funding, sponsors, etc.)
All activities are funded by studio and event rentals.
Who is responsible for the programming? (Curators, Directors, etc.)
Artist David Cudney, curates and organizes art shows and events, while Jerry Miller handles property and space rentals. So it is basically a two-man operation.
What kind of events are usually organized?
The Factory is now the home of the in house created Peoples Art Show. And in early 2008, a 2500 sq. ft. section of the warehouse was renovated into an assembly area with a capacity of 138. With Cudney’s artistic talents this section became “The Kosmos,” a funky multi-use performance space/coffee bar.
In 2008, Miller met Felix Wurman, the late creator of the Church of Beethoven Sunday morning concert series, and collaborated with him to bring the popular Sunday morning show to the Kosmos where it now resides as Sunday Chatter. This one-hour symphonic-based potpourri of music and poetry is typically sold out and continues to be an anchor for The Factory’s success. Due to its central location near the “Big I” (Interstate-40), parking for 70 cars, wifi, and projection and sound, The Kosmos is also frequently rented for birthdays, wedding receptions, concerts, theater productions, graduation parties, and art events. The Kosmos is also home for the April Wednesday night Jazz Deconstructed series put on by the New Mexico Jazz Workshop.
How is your programming determined?
These galleries are available on a rental basis for student graduate shows, group shows, and individual shows. Special shows are also curated and developed by The Factory.
Do you accept proposals/submissions?
As mentioned above, The Factory is now the home of the in-house created Peoples Art Show. This popular show provides a venue for all artists to show their work and typically draws 150 to 200 pieces. Each artist may enter up to two pieces at $10 per piece with no limit to size or media. All work is accepted. Artists simply bring work by The Factory the weekend of Feb. 25th and 26th. All sales go to the artist.
Our studio spaces are currently 100% rented, and our main gallery is rented through November. Our smaller galleries have some open dates available and The Kosmos has availability.
What idea are you most excited about for the future?
We are currently exploring the idea of creating a “not-for-profit” to secure funding for additional staff, building improvements, and new programs in order the build a state of the art 1.5-acre arts campus for Albuquerque and New Mexico. This may include parking lot improvements, insulation, additional outdoor decks, fountains, sculpture, new heating and cooling, solar power, rooftop decks, and LED stage lighting and sound reinforcement.

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