Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam R Ross
Hi Sam R, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Windmill Arts was founded in 2016 for the purpose of housing my theater company out of Los Angeles. The company ultimately disbanded and the building was transitioned to a rental house. Prior to the pandemic, I saw the need for small emerging arts groups to have access to premium space at reasonable prices and I began to look for artistic companies that were interested in creating new work. By 2023, several “Resident Artist” companies were housed at Windmill Arts. In 2024, Windmill Arts Production (WAP) (a non-profit corporation) was founded to develop, support, and promote these resident artists in a formal “Resident Artists Program”. Presently, we have 10 Resident Artist companies and plan on adding two more this year.
WAP’s mission is to viscerally re-engage audiences through the medium of performing arts by supporting, developing, producing, and presenting new work that pushes conventional boundaries and expectations.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Creating new work is always a challenge. New artists telling new stories from new perspectives has been and will continue to be a challenge to 1) audience growth 2) financial stability and 3) granting and funding options. However, without an emphasis on new work the arts culture becomes stagnant and predictable.
Additionally, while finding new art companies is not generally difficult, finding those companies that are committed to creating new work is very hard. It is so hard to survive as a company nowadays that gambling future stability on only showcasing new work is often more than young companies have either the bandwidth to achieve or even the desire. Presenting tried and true classics helps grow audiences and financial interest exponentially.
This is why Windmill Arts Production is so important. We give these new artists the guidance and support (both financially and administratively) the chance to survive as they create and hone their own artistic vision.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Windmill Arts Production was founded to support new artists and their work. This is achieved in numerous ways but ultimately the goal is to create work that is portable. In other words, create works that other audiences in other cities (markets) would want to see. This can achieved in several ways such as getting a new playwrights in our Resident Artist Program published, or like we achieved in 2024, getting a new play developed in our Resident Artist Program produced off-Broadway NYC.
This is how new work gets seen and heard and it’s the long development process that is usually a roadblock to such portability. It takes time, money, and other resources that are typically out of reach to new art companies.
Windmill Arts production is becoming known for such successes and it is this that we specialize in and take great pride in.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Windmill Arts Production (WAP) is always looking for new voices. If you are an aspiring company (dance, theater, circus, puppetry, movement, playwright, etc) there is room for you at WAP. We service an underserved community in southwest Atlanta and our Resident Artists are as diverse as our community. The variety of Resident Artists and the work they create is also reflected in our audience base.
So, either join us, come see us or support us through tax-free donations to Windmill Arts Production Inc. Or simpler yet, like us or follow us or join our email list.
www.windmillarts.org
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.windmillarts.org
- Instagram: windmill.arts
- Facebook: Windmill Arts
