Building on San Jose State University's history of community-centered spaces, like the Martin Luther King Library and Hammer Theater, the CADRE N.E.R.D. Lab will create a physical bridge between the university and the heart of downtown San Jose. This dedicated space, within walking distance of campus, will offer students and faculty an environment to partner with industry leaders, artists, and technologists in creating, prototyping, and exhibiting art and technology collaborations.

The N.E.R.D. Lab will function as a highly adaptable venue, allowing for diverse programming such as exhibitions, performances, interactive workshops, and interdisciplinary events, designed for both public engagement and focused academic exploration. With support from SJSU's CADRE Media Labs and interdisciplinary collaboration from the Colleges of Engineering, Science, and Graduate Studies, this lab will offer downtown San Jose a unique cultural and educational resource. This space will redefine the role of public art and technology in the city, providing an inclusive venue for pioneering media art, showcasing research, and expanding the local cultural landscape while preserving and highlighting the history of the CADRE Lab and its role in San Jose.

Prospectus

As San Jose redefines its post-pandemic identity, the downtown core has a rare opportunity to recreate and refine its image as a nationally recognized cultural and technological hub, reflecting Silicon Valley's leadership in innovation. The CADRE N.E.R.D. Lab aims to contribute to this vision by establishing an arts and technology space that is both deeply local and globally resonant.

With decades of leadership in the art and technology dialogue, CADRE Media Labs has been a cornerstone of San Jose's cultural landscape. Building on its 40-year legacy and influence in media arts, CADRE's public lab space will make San Jose a destination for forward-thinking art and tech enthusiasts, researchers, and industry leaders. Situated downtown, the N.E.R.D. Lab would not only enrich San Jose's community with regular performances, exhibitions, and workshops but also position itself as an active research and experimental lab for world-premiere media art events.

This space represents a long-overdue expansion, following models established by similar university programs like CNMAT at UC Berkeley and CCRMA at Stanford, yet filling a unique need in Silicon Valley for a dedicated public arts and tech interface. The lab's goal is to secure and own the property, supporting it through a robust endowment to ensure the lab's sustained growth and ability to foster cutting-edge creativity for years to come.

Community Need

San Jose has a direct need for more art and performance venues, spaces that reflect the innovative and artistic fabric of Silicon Valley. This project, as a dedicated community art and technology space, can meet several currently unmet needs:

Long-term Sustainability

Ensuring the lab's sustainability means securing a financial and operational foundation for years to come. Key factors include:

Ownership

Owning the space outright enables CADRE Media Labs and the university to reduce operational costs long-term, avoiding rental market volatility. Current market rate for a commercial storefront range from $3-6 million

Endowment

A $12 million endowment would be foundational, creating a self-sustaining funding source, enabling stable staffing, and supporting ongoing programming without dependence on fluctuating funding sources.

Staff and Leadership Funding

With a 4% endowment payout, the lab could employ dedicated full-time staff (two roles at $90,000 annually) to manage operations and programming, supplemented by three endowed director roles ($40,000 annually) for specialized oversight, thereby maintaining consistent leadership and operational stability.

Annual Programming and Research Funding

Allocating $180,000 yearly to support residencies, exhibitions, and material acquisition secures the lab's ability to host cutting-edge projects and showcase diverse, high-impact programming that draws from both local and international talent.

Feasibility

The feasibility of this project can be demonstrated through several practical steps and advantages:

Established History and Model of Success

CADRE's 40-year legacy as one of the leading media arts programs in the Bay Area and its association with SJSU underscores its potential impact. Following models set by programs like UC Berkeley's CNMAT and Stanford's CCRMA, CADRE's lab would fill a distinct gap as a dedicated space in Silicon Valley for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Location and Community Integration

By situating the lab downtown, within walking distance from the university, it strengthens SJSU's role in the urban fabric and engages the broader community, while providing a space that is accessible and visible to students, industry professionals, and the public.

Targeted Fundraising and Community Support

The CADRE N.E.R.D. Lab project could leverage strategic partnerships with local tech companies, community grants, and academic resources, as well as crowdfunding from alumni and community advocates who recognize the program's cultural value. Securing anchor donors from tech and philanthropic foundations interested in supporting the arts and technology nexus could provide additional long-term stability.