Meet [nueBOX]

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Arrow.

Hi Sam, I’m so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
[nueBOX] was founded by Julie Akerly and Matthew Mosher in 2014 because they wanted to see the love and support for the arts in Phoenix that they have experienced in other major cities. [nueBOX] was created as a path for artists to live in Phoenix and continue practicing deeply as artists. Neither of them knew anything about running an organization, and they only had $ 5,000 to get this idea started. They aimed to cultivate a culture that values the process of artistic work and gives artists a reason to stay in Metro-Phoenix by supporting artists in creating memorable, honest, and explorative work. We have had amazing success, hosting classes, rehearsal space, residency programs, and performance opportunities in a way that makes the artistic process transparent, collaborative, and accessible to artists and the artist community.

It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As a performing arts organization, [nueBOX] was hit hard by the pandemic, and we had to pull back a lot of our programming to maintain the artists’ health and safety. Coming out of pandemic isolation, we have needed to re-imagine what our programming looks like and continue to modify it to meet the needs of the artists we serve and those who work hard to keep [nueBOX] alive.

[nueBOX] is a nonprofit organization, and the Permanent Artists in Residence, along with our board members, volunteer their time and energy to create programming and opportunities for Phoenix artists. Working as a volunteer is a labor of love; sometimes, it’s a lot of labor, but there is always a lot of love.

Thanks – What else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
[nueBOX] has an ever-evolving selection of classes, residencies, informal performances, artist talkbacks, webinars, and formal performances. Our offerings include yoga and Latin dance classes, Studio/LAB and SEED residencies, In-progress showings, Permanent Artists in Residence, and upcoming showcase [nueWORK]. The Studio/LAB Residency is a 6-month residency available to creatives interested in deep diving into their creative practice. Their work can transverse the spectrums from funny to provocative, experimental to virtuosic, R-rated to family-friendly, disturbing to healing, personal & political, form-based to abstract, and outside, around, and beyond these categories.

The SEED Residency Program is a mini-residency for 3 months. It is meant to give artists time to explore and investigate new ideas without the pressure of developing a finished work. Permanent artists-in-residence (PAIR) are supported artistically through [nueBOX] in exchange for administrative support for the organization. The program provides reliable and consistent support, funding and networking opportunities, and training for administrative careers in the arts.

The artists in residence at [nueBOX] are intentionally chosen from all different backgrounds, education, and experiences, ranging from contemporary dance to performance art. Every Work-in-Progress Showing and performance is different because [nueBOX] is committed to supporting as many artists as we can. We are proud to see how this residency opportunity allows artists to hone their artistry and meet new audiences. This list of previous resident artists shows that [nueBOX] plays an integral role in incubating amazing local artists – such as Ruby Moralez, Lawrence Fung, Jenny Gerena, Felipa Lerma, Angelina Ramirez, Shauna Meredith, Liliana Gomez, and Ellen Sickenberger.

You can see some of the artists listed above and our current Permanent Artists in Residence, Sam Arrow, Halley Willcox, Zarina Mendoza, and Jisun Myung, at [nueWORK] on September 2, 2023 at 7 pm at Third Street Theater, Phoenix Center for the Arts.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
Luck had much to do with how I found [nueBOX]. In 2018, I applied for a SEED residency and used that as a springboard to create a full-length work about pelvic pain. One year later, [nueBOX] needed a Financial Director, and I needed a space to make. The timing was perfect; since then, I have been creating art and supporting artists through [nueBOX].

Contact Info:

• Website: www.nuebox.org
• Instagram: @nueboxphx
• Facebook: @nuebox
• Other: https://nuebox.snwbll.com/giving-portal

Image Credits
Photos by Halley Willcox, Lawrence Fung, Rick Meinecke