Venue Spotlight: Steinfeld Warehouse
The first venue on our spotlight series this year is dedicated to the Steinfeld Warehouse. This is the third year the Fringe has used the Steinfeld Warehouse and we are happy to include a piece of Tucson history to the festival. The warehouse is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the oldest surviving warehouse in downtown Tucson. Built in 1907 for Albert Steinfeld & Co by architects David and Jesse Holmes who managed many other building projects for Steinfeld as well as for the University of Arizona in the early days of the territory.
“The warehouse stands today as an early example of Victorian Commercial architecture, complete with corbelled brick details, segmented arches above door and window openings, and a 1920s-era storefront addition with two-tone, wire-cut faced brick and cast stone.” (“Steinfeld Warehouse Community Arts Center.” Steinfeld Warehouse Community Arts Center, Warehouse Arts Management Organization, 2010, www.wamotucson.org/Steinfeld-Warehouse-Community-Arts-Center.)
Albert Steinfeld owned many businesses in Tucson with his most successful being Steinfeld’s Department Stores, the first modern department store in the city in operation for 135 years. Albert Steinfeld’s name and businesses dominated downtown Tucson during the Territorial period and he is one of the most prominent figures from that time period.
While still located by the train tracks, the warehouse runs as a showing gallery for local artists and more recently, with the help of the Fringe Festival, has begun holding live performances. With its old hardwood floors and brick walls (inside and out), the Executive Director of the Fringe Festival has said, “It’s really fringe-y.” This warehouse quickly became one of the festival’s popular venues by performing artists and audiences alike. It’s a great place to view performing arts in the raw. Stripped to the barebones with no glitz or glam; just art of all forms connecting with audiences.
Be sure to like the Steinfeld Warehouse Facebook Page and visit the gallery throughout the year to view works from local artists. Five of our upcoming shows will be performed at the Steinfeld Warehouse during the 9th Tucson Fringe Festival, happening January 9-12, 2020.