NO STUDIOS, a new hub for the creative arts in downtown Milwaukee, will hold its grand opening the weekend of Oct. 12–14 featuring a series of open house and special event opportunities. The opening weekend will give Milwaukeeans the chance to learn more about this new organization and the many ways to get involved. This first-of-its-kind experimental concept bridging arts and entertainment experiences, a networking/social club model and shared workspaces was founded by Oscar-winning filmmaker and Milwaukee native John Ridley (12 Years a Slave, American Crime) and business partner Chris Abele.
To welcome new members ahead of the grand opening, No Studios will offer an exclusive Special Advance Screening of the new, much-anticipated Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish comedy NIGHT SCHOOL. The screening will take place Wednesday, Sept. 26 before it’s released to the public on Sept. 28. A full lineup of grand opening events and open house opportunities will be announced later this month.
Housed in the newly redeveloped Pabst Brewery Complex, No Studios builds on Milwaukee’s rich history as a vibrant, creative community in one of the city’s up-and-coming revitalized areas. It is a social space dedicated to the creation, curation and presentation of art, in all forms, and welcomes diverse communities across the city to celebrate art together.
“No Studios is unlike anything I’ve been a part of before,” said Ridley, founder and CEO. “We’ve carefully curated a space and network where creatives of all kinds can socialize with purpose. Relationships still matter, and in our increasingly digital world, we hope to offer the opportunity for people to connect offline and fuel their creative passions.”
The 40,000 square foot building is designed to feel comfortable, open, modern and inviting, encouraging collaboration. There is a mix of long-term and short-term offices, conference rooms and shared work space intended for individuals, organizations and companies in creative fields. The first-floor gallery space, bearing high ceilings and exposed brick, will show rotating exhibitions and feature a gallery lounge and cocktail bar serving wine, craft beers, cocktails and Colectivo coffee. The gallery level also includes a state-of-the-art, 47-seat screening room, and a performance stage. A glass-enclosed rooftop offers a bar and event space with expansive city views, and is scheduled to open later this year.
No Studios is rounding out its management team and has hired Luke Repetti as general manager of building and events, who started in his new position Sept. 4. Repetti’s experience in Milwaukee’s arts and entertainment scene is robust, with previous roles at BMO Harris Bradley Center, 88Nine Radio Milwaukee and Summerfest. He will join Lisa Caesar, chief operating officer, and Sylvia Desrochers, director of media and programming.
A curated group of tenants, who share a common dedication to the arts in Milwaukee, will call No Studios home in the coming months, including Independent, Media Circus International and Gener8tor. These organizations will join previously announced tenants Milwaukee Film, Milwaukee Filmmaker Alliance, 371 Productions, Custom Reality Services, UW-Milwaukee Department of Film and Marquette University.
No Studios offers a unique membership model aimed at supporting the local creative community. Membership is broken into three tiers, to provide accessibility and accommodate various audiences, from burgeoning filmmakers and versatile artists to seasoned professionals. Varying benefit levels include access to No Studios’ programming calendar featuring a variety of events both on-site and at locations throughout the city; access to performance spaces to present; use of meeting, event and social spaces; concierge services and film equipment rentals. Memberships can be purchased online atwww.nostudios.com.
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About NO STUDIOS
Founded by Oscar-winning filmmaker and Milwaukee native John Ridley (12 Years a Slave, American Crime ) and business partner Chris Abele, No Studios is a hub for the creative arts in Milwaukee, designed to provide a social space dedicated to the creation, curation and presentation of art. No Studios offers long-term and short-term office space for local individuals, organizations, and companies in creative fields. As a for-profit venture that aims to become a sustainable model for bringing arts to Milwaukee, No Studios offers a unique three-tier membership model providing accessibility to a wide variety of audiences. No Studios presents year-round programming including film screenings and discussions, dance and music performances, readings, and photographic and fine art exhibitions. The building is located in the newly redeveloped Pabst Brewery Complex at 1037 West McKinley Avenue. Learn more at www.nostudios.com.
About John Ridley
John Ridley’s critically acclaimed documentary about the Los Angeles uprising, Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982-1992, premiered in theaters and aired on ABC in 2017 and is now available on Netflix. He is currently directing the sci-fi romance Needle in a Timestack with Leslie Odom Jr., Freida Pinto, Cynthia Erivo, and Orlando Bloom. He is slated to direct an adaptation of his graphic novel series “The American Way” for Blumhouse as well as the first episode of the EPIX original series “Godfather of Harlem,” starring and executive produced by Forest Whitaker.
Ridley previously won an Oscar® for writing 12 Years A Slave, he wrote and directed the innovative Jimi Hendrix biopic All Is By My Side, and was the creator, director, and executive producer of ABC’s Emmy-winning series “American Crime.” His limited series “Guerilla,” with Idris Elba, Freida Pinto, and Babou Ceesay, aired last year on Showtime and Sky.
About NIGHT SCHOOL
Star Kevin Hart and producer Will Packer, who partnered for the hit Ride Along and Think Like a Man series, bring their signature style to Night School. The comedy from director Malcolm D. Lee (Girls Trip) follows a group of misfits who are forced to attend adult classes in the longshot chance they’ll pass the GED exam.
Co-stars Tiffany Haddish, Rob Riggle, Taran Killam and Romany Malco join Hart on-screen for the film that Hart produces for his Hartbeat Productions, and Packer via his Will Packer Productions.www.nightschoolmovie.com
