WHAT IS Q-LAB?

Q-LAB IS…a boundary-pushing performance series at The Chan National Queer Arts Center, where genre, form, and personal narrative converge to create a bold, immersive musical experience. This series highlights and elevates queer voices through cutting-edge performances that connect audiences with the intimate and powerful diversity of the queer community.

Q-LAB IS…an interdisciplinary space for artistic innovation, where music transcends traditional boundaries and connects across styles, genres, and identities. Each performance is crafted as a thesis—a compelling artistic statement from the stage that draws the audience into an artist’s unique point of view. Through innovative staging and immersive design, Q-Lab helps audiences feel the stories, emotions, and ideas shared in the space on a deep and visceral level.

What Sets Q-Lab Apart?

Q & A with Jacob Stensberg (Artistic Director) and Richard Lonsdorf (Director of Programming)

Jacob Stensberg: Richard, let’s dive into Q-Lab. What would you say is its soul? Its driving force?

Richard Lonsdorf: I suppose you could say its soul is queerness itself! We are a community that doesn’t fit easily into boxes, and the Chan National Queer Arts Center needed a series that encourages artists to experiment and grants audiences the freedom to explore beyond the traditional confines of a concert hall. So Q-Lab is our laboratory; an interdisciplinary haven where we encourage everyone to leave their expectations at the door.

Jake: Absolutely. I love that you said “laboratory.” Each Q-Lab performance is more than a performance—it has a thesis, a central argument or a heartfelt declaration.  We’re asking artists, “What kind of worldview do you want your work to represent?” and then giving them the tools to build that vision.

Richard: And it’s not just the artists who are more engaged—the audience is, too! . When you come to Q-Lab, you’re  not just a passive spectator, you’re part of the dialogue. The design, the storytelling, the visual experience: it pulls you into these narratives, ensuring you don’t just hear or see—you feel.

Jake: Right. It’s like we’re breaking apart the  traditional idea of a performance and layering it back together with a queer perspective. What if the boundary between the stage and the audience is a little fluid? What if personal identity overrides traditional musical categories? How do we create a space where people leave transformed, curious, or even inspired to act?

Richard: This is so exciting. Why say “this is a jazz night” when it can be so much more? Q-Lab really is a space of boundless possibility. And that possibility is only as strong as the community that inhabits it. 

Jake: That’s why diversity—of artists, of ideas, of audiences—isn’t just a value here. It’s the lifeblood of Q-Lab.

Richard: I couldn’t agree more. I know we’ve only announced two shows so far (Davóne Tines and Nikola Printz), but we are talking to a variety of artists behind the scenes, and I am so excited to share more in a few months. So, Jake, what would you say to someone who’s thinking about coming to Q-Lab? What should they expect?

Jake: Expect to be surprised, to be moved, to see and feel things you’ve never encountered before. Most importantly, expect to be part of an unforgettable moment you can’t get anywhere else. 

To learn more about our upcoming Q-LAB experiences, click on the buttons below