AERIAL ARTS STUDIO in BISHOP, CA

Wakeful Ascent Aerial Arts was launched in Bishop, CA by Sara Kaiser in Spring 2018. More than 400 classes serving ages 3-60+, four student showcases, and five community events later, we are planning an expansion in Spring 2020. Currently classes take place inside a shared gym space and we are outgrowing it!  The expansion will provide a distraction-free space that is specifically designated for aerial classes. The expansion will allow for additional classes and opportunities for students. 

VALUE OF AERIAL ARTS
Why is aerial instruction so valuable? It notoriously places students of all ages outside their comfort zone, showing them, to their surprise, that they really can achieve acrobatic feats. The playful and challenging nature of aerial arts is a perfect recipe for friendship. Students encourage each other and grow together in extraordinary, unforgettable ways. Community builds strong and fast. Children, teens, and adults will have an unprecedented opportunity to challenge themselves, discover themselves, and develop aerial expertise and artistry in a safe and loving environment.  It will become a hub for artists, athletes, and families alike.

A UNIQUE LOCAL OPPORTUNITY
Bishop has a disproportionately high level of talent and ambition for its small size, but opportunities to develop artistry and athleticism are limited. This space will enable high-level instruction, guidance, and mentorship by individuals on the forefronts of their athletic and artistic disciplines. The new space will be better able to support a network of individuals excited to explore and develop creativity, strength, flexibility, and friendship. 

The addition of an aerial arts studio in Bishop is regionally significant. Historically, Bishop locals seeking instruction in aerial acrobatics would have had to travel to Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Las Vegas, and Reno. With the completion of this project, people from those cities will be planning visits to us. The studio will stand as a symbol of the entrepreneurship and artistry emerging in Bishop. 

PERFORMING ARTS
The new space will also provide a cutting edge performing arts space for the Bishop community. We have powerful and beautiful aerial theatre and dance shows lying dormant due to not having the space we need to move forward with them. We want to share these productions with you. We have visions of galas with aerialists dancing high above the guests. There is no shortage of creative ideas brewing in Bishop's budding aerial community.

YOU CAN BE PART OF IT
For this unique and incredible venue to become reality, we need community support. The new space needs floors installed, wall panels to cover the insulation and provide a surface for wall harness dance, professional engineering and rigging to ensure that our aerialists are 100% safe in the air, and thick gymnastics mats to place underneath each apparatus. 

WHAT WE NEED
-Flooring to insulate the concrete
-Professional rigging services and cost of materials for rigging
-Large thick gymnastics mats to place under the apparatuses
-Equipment 
-Plywood wall panels to provide a surface for harness wall dance and a welcoming environment
-New garage door that will not interfere with air space

$10,000 will allow us to purchase everything we need and want to make a safe, comfortable, and beautiful space. $8,000 will secure our immediate needs.
$5,000 will get us moving quickly so the space can be ready in a timely manner. 
$2,000 will give us the green light to begin the transition.
We will continue to fundraise until our goals are met. Donations beyond $10,000 will be put in an equipment inspection/upgrade fund. 

Financial support of this space will reflect Bishop locals' values of art, athletics, and community. If you believe in the immediate and long-term value of this space to the Eastern Sierra, please make a donation today.