User:Nickvanick/sandbox

Yale Union (YU) is a center for contemporary art in Southeast Portland. According to its mission statement, it is led by a desire to support emerging and under-acknowledged contemporary artists, propose new modes of production, and stimulate the ongoing public discourse around art.

YU's name is a nod to the previous tenants of its building, Yale Union Laundry. The laundry was formed in 1908, a time in which long hours and harsh working conditions were the status quo in industrial labor. With the introduction of new federal laws regulating labor hours and conditions, the female workers at Yale Union became emblematic of the struggles of women workers and of the worker in general. The Yale Union Laundry building is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in Portland for its ability to represent a story of American industrialization, the rise of the middle class, and the Women’s Labor movement.

Alter LLC, associated with the Monfort Family Foundation, purchased the building for $3.5 million and intends to fund renovations and operations until the arts center generates revenue on its own. Renovations costing an additional $7.2 million, also funded by Alter, include a bookstore and cafe, and a 100-seat room. The center was officially unveiled in November 2010 with a renovated kitchen and additional improvements planned.More than 600 people attended the opening for YU's first public exhibit in May 2011.