Meow Wolf Recognized in Fast Company’s 2020 List of “World’s Most Innovative Companies”
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New Mexico, Santa Fe (March 10, 2020) - Meow Wolf has been included in Fast Company’s prestigious annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2020. The list honors 434 businesses from 39 countries who are making a profound impact on both industry and culture, showcasing a variety of ways to thrive in today’s fast-changing world. The Santa Fe-based arts and entertainment company has earned the #50 spot on the World’s Most Innovative Companies list, as well as #1 in the Live Events category.
“Evolving from a small collective in Santa Fe to a large arts organization, Meow Wolf has become a creative tour de force in the industry. Driven by a calling to bring art to life, we are honored to have created one of the most engaging immersive experiences in the world,” said Ali Rubinstein, Co-CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Meow Wolf.
"Meow Wolf’s innovation has captured the hearts of visitors in Santa Fe, and we can’t wait to expand the experience to Las Vegas and Denver,” stated Carl Christensen, Co-CEO and Chief Financial Officer of Meow Wolf. “From first time discoveries to repeat visits, we’re looking forward to opening our doors and sharing the immersive experience with millions of guests in the years to come.”
“Meow Wolf’s pure, artistic vision has set the company on a trajectory to reinvent the entertainment space. We are in the unique position of being able to provide a platform for artists around the world to connect with audiences who are eager to enjoy and interact with their work,” said Jim Ward, Co-CEO and Chief Content Officer at Meow Wolf.
Meow Wolf is celebrated for redefining the experience economy by providing an entry point into a new kind of immersive experience: one that makes interactive art accessible to all audiences through discovery and exploration. Working with a large group of highly talented artists from concept to creation, Meow Wolf opened their first permanent exhibit, House of Eternal Return, in March 2016. Offering a truly transformative audience experience, the company has opened the space up to XR experiences, immersive festivals, and musical performances, attracting top artists such as Kaskade, Grouplove, and Phoebe Bridgers. In addition to concerts at the House, Meow Wolf has also launched two major music festivals, Taos Vortex and Dark Palace, that have brought together world-renowned musicians and local artists to create an unforgettable concert experience.
Meow Wolf is currently gearing up for the highly anticipated launch of their second permanent home - Meow Wolf Las Vegas. The Vegas installation is slated to open its doors in the Fall of 2020 at AREA15, a brand new immersive entertainment and retail complex. Meow Wolf will be the anchor tenant at this first-of-its-kind destination, spanning 53,000 square feet of mind-bending, interactive art, providing an unforgettable immersive experience. Construction is also underway on Meow Wolf’s 90,000 square foot space in Denver, which will be opening in 2021.
Adding to their impressive roster of interactive spaces, one of Meow Wolf’s largest contributing innovations in 2019 was the opening of Kaleidoscape, an art-driven amusement park ride at Denver’s own Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park. Riders are transported into another realm of expansive experiences via QDOT or Quantum Department of Transportation. The ride also provides a sneak preview of underlying themes to be discovered when Denver’s permanent exhibit opens in 2021. Meow Wolf worked closely with local Denver and Santa Fe artists to create a ride that invites all audiences to experience the unique Meow Wolf multiverse first hand.
In addition to their contributions to the art world, Meow Wolf has also been a staple in supporting social change through the arts as well as is a certified B-Corp. To date, the company has contributed over $1.4 million in funding to non-profit organizations in their local communities, along with an annual DIY Fund in support of art and music spaces nationwide. Meow Wolf is proud to have already supported 213 different non-profit organizations and groups through financial and in-kind support in 2019.
The World’s Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company’s signature franchise and one of its most highly anticipated editorial efforts of the year. It provides both a snapshot and a road map for the future of innovation across the most dynamic sectors of the economy.
“At a time of increasing global volatility, this year’s list showcases the resilience and optimism of businesses across the world. These companies are applying creativity to solve challenges within their industries and far beyond,” said Fast Company senior editor Amy Farley, who supervised the issue with deputy editor David Lidsky.
You can catch Meow Wolf’s inclusion in Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies issue (March/April 2020), now available online at fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/2020, as well as in app form via iTunes and on newsstands starting March 17, 2020.
ABOUT MEOW WOLF
Meow Wolf is a Santa Fe-based arts and entertainment group that creates immersive, interactive experiences to transport audiences of all ages into fantastic realms of story and exploration. The company's first location in Santa Fe opened in 2016 and showcases the THEA Award-winning, international sensation House Of Eternal Return where now two million visitors have discovered a multidimensional mystery house with secret passages, portals to magical worlds, and surreal, maximalist & mesmerizing art exhibits. The location is also home to a learning center, a music venue, and the Float Cafe & Bar. In 2019, Meow Wolf expanded beyond Santa Fe and opened Kaleidoscape - the world’s first artist-driven ride at Elitch Gardens in Denver. Additional planned expansions include Las Vegas at AREA15, opening in Fall 2020, Denver in 2021, Washington, D.C. and Phoenix.
ABOUT FAST COMPANY
Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Since 2011, Fast Company has received some of the most prestigious editorial and design accolades, including the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) National Magazine Award for “Magazine of the Year,” Adweek’s Hot List for “Hottest Business Publication,” and six gold medals and 10 silver medals from the Society of Publication Designers. The editor-in-chief is Stephanie Mehta and the publisher is Amanda Smith. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc., and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com.
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