By Nicole Gruter | Photo by James Kreul
Located in the heart of Madison’s burgeoning east side arts district, Arts + Literature Laboratory (ALL) is a nonprofit, artist-driven interdisciplinary art space.
“What we are is in our name,” says Jolynne Roorda, its founder and artistic director. “We intentionally chose to have the acronym ALL because we support all art forms and serve artists, students and community members of all levels of experience and backgrounds.”
Bringing together visual artists, performers, writers and musicians under one roof aligns a unique opportunity for artists. “We love when artists inspire each other by being in a space that supports all art forms,” Roorda says. “Most artists today work across genres and different media. When you bring people together with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skill sets, we grow and learn from each other. It builds a richer, more vibrant community for everyone.”
Filled with natural lighting, the multi-level building buzzes year-round with activity. ALL provides exhibition and performance space, affordable on-site studios, educational programming, professional development and summer camps while hosting over 250 events per year. ALL engages with mediums including printmaking, drawing, painting, sculpture and fiber arts.
When asked how ALL complements the surrounding area’s art spaces, Roorda says, “We can only do so much as one organization, but we can support one another as fellow arts organizations. Together, we can offer sustainable, comprehensive arts programming.”
