What if art was truly for everyone—and artists were paid fairly to make it?
In the latest episode of The Cultural Curriculum Chat™ Podcast, I sat down with Ben Zingos, Executive Director of Space Pirates Theatre Collective, a Los Angeles–based nonprofit theatre company that is fundamentally reimagining how theatre is made, who it serves, and how artists are valued.
A Theatre Model Rooted in Values
Space Pirates Theatre Collective operates under seven core tenets—immersion, affordability, equality, equity, anti-hate, community, and humanity. These aren’t aspirational values. They are operational commitments.
From $10 tickets to union-level, equal pay for all artists and crew, SPTC proves that accessibility does not have to come at the expense of dignity or sustainability.
Making History in 2026
In 2026, SPTC will make history as the first American theatre to:
Run a full season of radically affordable productions
Pay every cast, creative, crew, and front-of-house member a living wage
Offer all artists an equity stake in each production
This model challenges long-standing assumptions about who art is for—and who gets to survive while making it.
Art as Resistance and Community Care
Beyond the stage, SPTC is explicitly anti-racist, anti-fascist, and anti-discrimination. Their work centers marginalized perspectives and creates spaces for community engagement through talkbacks led by social experts, community leaders, and creatives.
In a time of increasing dehumanization, their commitment to human-made art, free from AI, is both radical and necessary.
Why This Conversation Matters
This episode is a reminder that cultural spaces are not neutral. How we fund, create, and share art reflects our values—whether we name them or not.
🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Cultural Curriculum Chat™ Podcast and explore what ethical art-making can look like when values lead the way.
