Matthew Richter
Encyclopedia
Matthew Richter is an American author, producer, performer, and arts entrepreneur living in Seattle, Washington
. He is perhaps best known as the founder of Consolidated Works
, a contemporary arts center in Seattle, and for his high-profile firing from the center by its board of directors in February 2005.
Richter has been producing alternative contemporary art, performance, film and music since his graduation from Northwestern University
in 1990. In 1992, he formed the seminal Rm 608, a gallery for visual and performing arts, in an abandoned storefront on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. The “small but influential” (The Stranger) organization served as the launching point for local talents such as David Schmader, the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
, Kia Sian, and Kristen Kosmas, and over the course of its two-year lifespan presented over 200 world-premiere works of theater and performance art, several of which received continued runs off-Broadway in New York City. On its closing in 1994 (the organization’s lifespan was built into its structure, and the closing was anticipated) Richter was quoted in The Seattle Weekly as saying, “Organizations should end, in the same way that performances end, so that the audience can clap, go home, and think about what it meant.”
In 1994, he was hired as the Theater Editor of The Stranger
, the alternative newsweekly in Seattle. While there, he expanded his interest in writing and published investigative journalism (according to the paper’s website, one undercover report earned him personal bodyguard protection following death threats made by the group investigated) and feature-length articles that were reprinted in alternative newsweeklies around the country. He was also published in an American Heritage college geography textbook. He left the newspaper in 1997 but continues to publish sporadically, most recently writing on the issue of nonprofit reform in America.
In 1998, he formed Consolidated Works
, a contemporary arts center in Seattle, housed in a renovated 32000 square feet (2,972.9 m²) warehouse in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood. Art in America
called ConWorks (as it was known for short) “the most dazzling” alternative arts space in the Northwest. Over the course of seven years as its executive director, he grew the organization into one of the region’s most prestigious arts presenters, working with teams of curators and producers to fill the facility’s theater, cinema, visual art gallery, music hall, lecture stage, and bar. The center flourished, reportedly thanks to Richter’s “legendary fundraising skills” and “internationally renowned programming” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer).
In 2002 he was one of twelve individuals invited under the auspices of the Rockefeller Foundation
to contribute as founding members of the National Arts and Technology Network. In 2003 he received the Seattle Mayor’s Arts Award on behalf of ConWorks, and also in 2003 was one of 12 recipients nationally of the Safeco Insurance Rudy Award for leadership in the nonprofit sector. A profile of the Seattle arts scene in Art in America referred to Richter as “an arts visionary.” A profile in The Stranger referred to him as “freakishly ambitious.”
He was fired from Consolidated Works by the organization’s board of directors on February 5, 2005, a move that sparked controversy and divided many in the local arts scene. The reasons for the firing were never made public. The organization continued without Richter for nearly two years following the firing, but announced its dissolution in December 2006, after losing its mammoth facility to rising costs nearly six months prior.
In 2005, Richter formed a new company, xom, which (according to Richter) stands for “hug and kiss, matt.” Under the auspices of the new company, Richter designs and creates original furniture, lectures on the state of the arts, consults to arts organizations, and produces independent arts events.
He continues his long-running association with the 14/48
festival, the self-described “world’s quickest theater festival,” a semiannual speed-theater marathon formerly held at Consolidated Works.
In September 2006, Richter (in collaboration with 18 chefs from around the country) created Dinner Theater, an avant-garde performance art dinner theater presented at On the Boards
in Seattle.
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. He is perhaps best known as the founder of Consolidated Works
Consolidated Works
Consolidated Works was a "multi-disciplinary contemporary arts center" located successively in two former warehouses in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, USA, just west of what would be considered the Cascade neighborhood within South Lake Union...
, a contemporary arts center in Seattle, and for his high-profile firing from the center by its board of directors in February 2005.
Richter has been producing alternative contemporary art, performance, film and music since his graduation from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in 1990. In 1992, he formed the seminal Rm 608, a gallery for visual and performing arts, in an abandoned storefront on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. The “small but influential” (The Stranger) organization served as the launching point for local talents such as David Schmader, the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players describe themselves as an "indie-vaudeville conceptual art-rock pop band", from the United States. Originally from Seattle, Washington, they are now based in New York, New York.-Overview:...
, Kia Sian, and Kristen Kosmas, and over the course of its two-year lifespan presented over 200 world-premiere works of theater and performance art, several of which received continued runs off-Broadway in New York City. On its closing in 1994 (the organization’s lifespan was built into its structure, and the closing was anticipated) Richter was quoted in The Seattle Weekly as saying, “Organizations should end, in the same way that performances end, so that the audience can clap, go home, and think about what it meant.”
In 1994, he was hired as the Theater Editor of The Stranger
The Stranger (newspaper)
The Stranger is an alternative weekly newspaper in Seattle, Washington, USA. It runs a blog known as Slog.-History:The Stranger was founded by Tim Keck, who had previously co-founded the satirical newspaper The Onion, and cartoonist James Sturm. Its first issue came out on September 23, 1991...
, the alternative newsweekly in Seattle. While there, he expanded his interest in writing and published investigative journalism (according to the paper’s website, one undercover report earned him personal bodyguard protection following death threats made by the group investigated) and feature-length articles that were reprinted in alternative newsweeklies around the country. He was also published in an American Heritage college geography textbook. He left the newspaper in 1997 but continues to publish sporadically, most recently writing on the issue of nonprofit reform in America.
In 1998, he formed Consolidated Works
Consolidated Works
Consolidated Works was a "multi-disciplinary contemporary arts center" located successively in two former warehouses in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, USA, just west of what would be considered the Cascade neighborhood within South Lake Union...
, a contemporary arts center in Seattle, housed in a renovated 32000 square feet (2,972.9 m²) warehouse in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood. Art in America
Art in America
Art in America is an illustrated monthly, international magazine concentrating on the contemporary art world, including profiles of artists and genres, updates about art movements, show reviews and event schedules. It is designed for collectors, artists, dealers, art professionals and other...
called ConWorks (as it was known for short) “the most dazzling” alternative arts space in the Northwest. Over the course of seven years as its executive director, he grew the organization into one of the region’s most prestigious arts presenters, working with teams of curators and producers to fill the facility’s theater, cinema, visual art gallery, music hall, lecture stage, and bar. The center flourished, reportedly thanks to Richter’s “legendary fundraising skills” and “internationally renowned programming” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer).
In 2002 he was one of twelve individuals invited under the auspices of the Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
to contribute as founding members of the National Arts and Technology Network. In 2003 he received the Seattle Mayor’s Arts Award on behalf of ConWorks, and also in 2003 was one of 12 recipients nationally of the Safeco Insurance Rudy Award for leadership in the nonprofit sector. A profile of the Seattle arts scene in Art in America referred to Richter as “an arts visionary.” A profile in The Stranger referred to him as “freakishly ambitious.”
He was fired from Consolidated Works by the organization’s board of directors on February 5, 2005, a move that sparked controversy and divided many in the local arts scene. The reasons for the firing were never made public. The organization continued without Richter for nearly two years following the firing, but announced its dissolution in December 2006, after losing its mammoth facility to rising costs nearly six months prior.
In 2005, Richter formed a new company, xom, which (according to Richter) stands for “hug and kiss, matt.” Under the auspices of the new company, Richter designs and creates original furniture, lectures on the state of the arts, consults to arts organizations, and produces independent arts events.
He continues his long-running association with the 14/48
14/48
14/48, the self-described “world’s quickest theater festival,” is a speed theatre festival that takes place semiannually in Seattle, Washington. The name of the festival derives from the unique format of creating and presenting 14 world-premiere short plays over the course of two days, or 48...
festival, the self-described “world’s quickest theater festival,” a semiannual speed-theater marathon formerly held at Consolidated Works.
In September 2006, Richter (in collaboration with 18 chefs from around the country) created Dinner Theater, an avant-garde performance art dinner theater presented at On the Boards
On the Boards
On the Boards is a non-profit contemporary performing arts organization in Seattle, Washington, founded in 1978. Originally located at Washington Hall in the Central District, the organization moved in 1998 to their current location in Lower Queen Anne...
in Seattle.
External links
- Chronicle of Philanthropy: A Parting of Ways
- On the Boards: Dinner Theater
- Seattle Weekly: Cuisine / Art
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Arts Community Rallies for Richter
- Seattle Channel: Seattle Voices with Matt Richter, 7/22/2004
- Art In America: Plugged in and Caffeinated
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer: A Moment With Matthew Richter
- Seattle Weekly: The Conjurer
- The Stranger: In Arts News - Wrecking Ball Report
- The Stranger: Art Goes Here
- Seattle Weekly: Small World
- The Stranger: Author Archive
- 14/48 Festival official site
- xom official website