How many people can say they've gone snowboarding Downtown?
Warehouse 508, a youth-oriented entertainment space, put together Fight for the Right, and the group is trucking in about 10 tons of snow for Albuquerque youth to legally snowboard and skateboard on Civic Plaza today, starting at 6 p.m.
Justin Hood, 508's director of entertainment, said he wants to draw a crowd so City Council members will approve the warehouse's contract to continue with its construction.
"One of the council members put a budget proposal together to cut social services by at least two-thirds, which will be detrimental to this," Hood said.
He said the 508 building used to be a strip club known as the Ice House - another reason there have been concerns about reopening the space.
Executive director Drew Stuart said the event will have more than 30 vendors and information tables from local youth-oriented programs. Stuart said youth support is crucial because when the warehouse construction is done, the youth will plan which programs, classes and concerts the venue can house.
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"As opposed to me coming up with what the youth are going to do and what is cool, it is coming from the front lines, and then we'll direct them as far as making it happen," Stuart said.
Stuart said Fight for the Right will show City Council members the need for youth-based venues in Albuquerque.
"This is just a nice way to put an exclamation point on the need that exists and have everybody kind of rally around it," Stuart said. "The reason why we are even here is because of Marissa Mathy-Zvaifler, the girl who died at Sunshine, and the Club 7 fiasco, and the fact that this whole age group and demographic has kind of been left out as far as attending shows."
Director of operations Amy Dalness said the event will have live music and slam poetry.
"We want to show the size and diversity of the youth in Albuquerque and how those youth-focused organizations can come together at an event like this," Dalness said.
Stuart said the City Council will meet Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the basement of City Hall where people will have an opportunity to voice their concerns.
"We don't think that pulling back and not investing in this youth is a good move," Stuart said. "We think that is where the future is at, and if we can give them this program, it hopefully improves their quality of life, and you would hope that is what the city government is for, too."
If the contract is approved and construction continues, the warehouse will be the largest city-funded youth arts and entertainment venue in the country with an operating space of 26,000 square feet, Hood said.
"We want to have a recording studio, a graphic design studio, a screen-printing workshop. We also want to get involved with the film industry," Hood said. "And when we open, this is also going to be a performance venue, so if there is a local band that doesn't know where to play, they can come play at 508. If a kid wants to book a show every night, we will have shows every night."
'Fight for the Right'
Downtown Civic Plaza
Today, 6 p.m.
Free
