ArtLab is an intensive year-round internship and apprentice program for at-risk and underserved youth. This innovative long-term program utilizes the arts, mentorship and learning to help at risk youth ages 14-19 to develop academic, personal and workforce skills.  They work in an atmosphere that fosters creativity, diversity, competence, asset development, mentoring, trust and teamwork.  The program provides academic year stipends and opportunity for summer paid positions, instilling responsibility and encouraging future goals.

WORLD PREMIERE
Throwaway/Runaway

An original play about teenage homelessness by ArtLab. Presented in conjunction with the Dialog: City Initiative
WHEN: Wednesday, August 27, 5:00 pm
WHERE: Air Forest Pavilion, located
behind the Denver Museum of Nature & Science in City Park.
Directed by: José Mercado with Craig Volk & Mona Lucero.

ArtLab 2007-2008 focused on theatre arts. Lead by artist, teacher and founder/director of Labyrinth Arts Academy, Jose Mercado, the ArtLab team worked with a variety of artists in the process of creating, writing and producing an original play focusing on youth homelessness. Craig Volk, award-winning playwright, guided the students in writing the screenplay and Creative Resident Rory Golden worked with youth in creating portraits that will be integrated in the set. Created from a summer of improvisation, research, interviews and rehearsals, Throwaway/Runaway is a collage of monologues and scenes written by ArtLab. Performed by the youth that created the stories, Throwaway/Runaway examines the lives of today's youth who have run away from home or have been forced out of a dysfunctional home.  The substitutes youth find for the loss of family and the tragedies that often result in the search for those substitutes are explored. The world premiere of Throwaway/Runaway will be June 21 and 22nd, 2008. The play had its first staged reading in November at the Webb Atrium, with emcee Mayor Hickenlooper.

ArtLab 2008 youth will focus on filmmaking, lead by Jose Mercado and supported by a variety of artists. In January and February, students worked with Creative Resident Sandro Del Rosario to create experimental films for the installation Simultaneous Visions: The City Rises. In the spring and summer they will create digital films on the theme of Democracy, and work as interns with Cinemocracy and Dialog: City, in collaboration with the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs, Denver Film Society, Denver Open Media, RedLine, and the University of Colorado-Denver.

“Ever since I started ArtLab, I began learning more about people and their cultures. I learned how to be more focused and relaxed. I met scriptwriters, dancers, poets, painters that taught me about their lives and the history of their profession. I learned how to listen and be a team player. Thanks ArtLab!"