What We Are

MISSION

Established in 2017, folkLAB is an interdisciplinary art collaborative dedicated to equitable representation, compensation and access in the arts. We foster the creation of new, devised artworks by underrepresented artist. Our work is inspired by the intersection of personal narrative, myth, and identity seen through the lenses of intersectionality, decolonization, and collective liberation. Through this work, we aim to create new folklore and folk art that authentically represents our diverse world as it is today.

We are making art with the communities we serve, not just for them. We cherish autonomy and aim to resource and support artists to tell their however they want to tell them.

Our art-making process invites artists to consider their well-being and capacity and adapt the process itself in order to become as accessible as possible. folkLAB works with each team of artists to establish an equitable compensation model that matches the resources we have available, so no one has to give up primary income and everyone is fairly compensated for their time. We believe that equitable compensation is the key to a healthy, well-resourced, Pittsburgh arts community.

folkLAB leans into partnerships with like-minded community organizations and educators— in and outside of the arts sector— to create enriching co-programming that promotes the themes our artists are exploring as well as creativity, learning (and unlearning), and the values of radical care and collective liberation.

Our work is free to the public and supported by grantors and donations from the public.