Help Us Build LOCUL

Phase 1 is happening now (October 2025 - July 2026) with pop-up workshops and temporary studio sessions.
Phase 2 soft opening is planned for August 2026 with SIP, DESIRE Gallery, Unhidden Studio, and Form Academy in a permanent Midtown Sacramento space.
Phase 3 full opening with The Stage is planned for 2027. Timeline depends on securing funding.

We're committed to opening LOCUL regardless. If we don't hit our Phase 2 goal of $90,000, we'll adapt by:

Securing a smaller initial space (1,500-2,000 sq ft instead of 3,000 sq ft)
Opening 2-3 pillars first, adding others as revenue grows
Using shared kitchen/studio spaces initially
Extending our pop-up phase while continuing to fundraise
Form Academy and Unhidden Studio will launch by mid-2026 no matter what.

We've already successfully built two businesses in Romania (TeenMedia, Teatrul În Culise) from scratch. We know how to start small and grow sustainably.

Not at this time. LOCUL Arts & Education LLC is a for-profit company, not a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

However:

Angel investors receive equity in the company
All bookings and pre-purchases receive services (photography sessions, acting classes)
Crowdfunding backers receive rewards and perks

We're exploring fiscal sponsorship options for future grant eligibility, which may enable tax-deductible donations down the line.

We don't have a permanent physical space yet, that's what Phase 2 funding will secure!

But you can:

Attend our pop-up workshops and events
Book an Unhidden Studio session or join a class at The Form Academy to experience our work firsthand
Follow @locul.space on Instagram for behind-the-scenes content
Join our email list for virtual tours and updates

Once we sign the lease in 2026, we'll host hard-hat tours during construction.

We're committed to radical transparency:

TRACK RECORD:

Cristian founded and ran TeenMedia Academy in Romania (2009-2022): 1,000+ students
Cristian founded Teatrul În Culise (2011-2022): 10-year run, Forbes recognition, 100+ productions
Cristian managed multimillion-dollar production operations for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY:

Published budget breakdown
Monthly financial updates once funding begins
Open communication via email and social media
All receipts and expenditures tracked and reported

BUSINESS STRUCTURE:

Registered California LLC (formed October 2025)
Separate business bank account
Professional bookkeeping and accounting
Insurance and legal compliance

We're building this with the same care and professionalism we brought to our previous ventures. Just now in Sacramento, with your support.

Yes, absolutely. When booking, donating, or investing, simply indicate you prefer to remain anonymous. Your name won't appear on the Witness Wall or any public materials.

We'll still send you Founding Member perks and updates privately, but your contribution will remain confidential.

Your non-financial support is incredibly valuable:

ATTEND & SPREAD THE WORD:

Come to our free or low-cost pop-up events
Follow @locul.space on Instagram and engage with our posts
Share our content with your networks
Forward our emails to friends who might be interested
Tell Sacramento's creative community about us

CONNECT US:

Introduce us to potential angel investors
Connect us with grant opportunities
Suggest venues for pop-up events
Recommend us to local press or podcasts

TESTIFY:

If you attend a workshop or book a session, tell others about your experience
Leave reviews and testimonials
Take photos at events and tag us
Write about us on your blog or social media

Word of mouth is powerful. Every share, every introduction, every conversation matters.

You're helping us build a movement, not just a venue.

INTEGRATED ECOSYSTEM:

Most venues offer one thing. LOCUL offers five interconnected experiences that feed each other. Your morning coffee introduces you to the gallery. The gallery leads you to a photo session. The photo session connects you to an acting class. The class brings you to a performance. Everything amplifies everything else.

ACCESSIBILITY:

We're not creating art for art collectors and theater snobs. We're creating art for everyone—especially people who think art "isn't for them." Non-actors take our classes. Regular people become gallery subjects. Introverts find their voice on our stage.

IMMIGRANT PERSPECTIVE:

We're bringing 15+ years of Romanian theatrical innovation to Sacramento. We're not copying what exists—we're transplanting what we know works and adapting it to this community.

VULNERABILITY AS VALUE:

Most spaces reward polish and perfection. We reward honesty and humanity. Our acting method, our photography style, our performance curation—all celebrate being real, not being perfect.

SACRAMENTO IS READY:

California's capital has a growing creative scene but lacks intimate, multi-disciplinary spaces. Most venues are either large institutions or tiny pop-ups. LOCUL fills the gap. Professional but personal, curated but accessible.

MIDTOWN IS THE HEART:

Midtown Sacramento is walkable, artistic, and community-oriented. Second Saturday Art Walk brings thousands of people through the neighborhood monthly. It's where creatives already gather. We're joining that energy and amplifying it.

WE'RE PLANTING ROOTS:

We didn't come to Sacramento to "try it out." We sold our businesses in Romania, left our established community, and moved here to build something permanent. This is our new home, and LOCUL is our gift to this city.