Let's say there is an "Arts Center" in a converted warehouse (or old factory or someplace) that was basically a large, clean, well-lit space with work-tables, wood working tools, pottery-wheels, lampworking tools (i.e. tools to make glass artcrafts with), and stained glass supplies and tools. The center is very "hands off" in that it provides the equipment and the space, and you use it to whatever artistic purpose you see fit. You bring your own consumable supplies or materials. The center provides locker space to store your stuff when you aren't there. You pay a fee (monthly? weekly? hourly?) to use the space and the equipment. Would you take advantage of this?
WRITERS:
There is an old house in town that is a "Writer's Sanctuary". Basically writers pay a monthly fee and have access to the house. There are a few computers, a typewriter, and many quiet spaces to sit and write. There is a small reference library, and kitchen facilities to make and store your own snacks. House rules make it forbidden to disturb any other patron except in specific areas of the house. The house is open 24/7 to accomodate all writing schedules. You pay a monthly fee for use of the facility.
People for whom such places might be ideal:
1. People in busy households who need a place away from the bustle to work on their art/writing. 2. People beginning a new art who don't want to spend lots of money on expensive equiptment until they know they'll stick with the craft. 3. People who want to meet and work with/near other artists/writers. 4. People who don't have room in their apartment, condo, or small house to set up a proper workshop.
Would anyone here use such places? Do you think such a place would be a viable business venture?
Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
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Karl, I think such a place sounds heavenly. In order to get away from the chaos of my house I would definately use it. I'm picturing old world decorating and lots of light.
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Karl-- I wouldn't use the writing house, simply because it is too easy to find a place like that for free. Especially if one owns a laptop.
Posts: 14554 | Registered: Dec 1999
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Karl, if you could provide woodworking tools and such, maybe a vise grip or sawhorse or two to boot.... I would SO be there. I live in a small apartment without a porch, and while I can sort of cobble together a workspace in the building's backyard, it's not ideal.
A huge part of the value for me in your proposal would be the proximity to other people in Creative Mode. There's a lot of possibilities for sharing ideas and materials there that you wouldn't get in your garage. I might use the space to try out something new, like the lampmaking you mentioned, when I probably wouldn't lean that way on my own.
In addition, it would be really cool if the people who ran the studio were constantly on the lookout for cool useful junk for all of these projects. They could keep a room full of stuff for members to take or buy, which would add even more value for someone like me who doesn't have time or money to go find my own useful and cool junk.
I want to go there now! Posts: 1681 | Registered: Jun 2004
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I wouldn't use it for writing simply because it wouldn't be "my" space.
One thing to consider, however, would be how many permanent residents you will get. Trust me, there's going to be at least one or two "artists" who just up and start using it as their domicile. They'll be easy to spot soon... they'll be sleeping on the couch, snagging food from other people's stores, and bumming cigarettes. That's what you have to watch out for.
"But duuuude, I am soooo working on my novel!" or "But, you can't force the creative process!!!"
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I think having a place with lots of art equipment would be nice. It would be kind of cool to have a writing place as well, but going there would always be too much of a production. I would prefer to just be spontaneous in picking a place to write.
Posts: 5957 | Registered: Oct 2001
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Dead_horse, have you ever used "silver clay"? It's a compound that you model like clay and fire. The carrier medium burns out in the firing, leaving the silver behind. I've never used it myself but it is increasingly popular among jewelry hobbiests and crafts-people.
Also, for everyone, how would you go about doing market research to find out if such a place would be viable. (Scrap the writer's space idea for now and let's just go with the art space.)
I thought of printing a survey and leaving it at a crafts store in the community BB area. But other than hanging around craft stores and asking people outright, how do you count the number of people yearning for a nice space to work and willing to pay for it.
Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
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I've seen this done at a senior community center in Champaign-Urbana. They had all kinds of woodworking tools and once you took the class (about $40 where you complete one project and learn how to use the equipment) you had free access, or something like $10 a month access to the facilities. We thought about doing it, but never did.
I believe our local bead shop does something similar as well and I know that scrapbooking and stamp stores in our area work on this premise. If you buy their paper, you can use their die-cut machine for certain time periods and they have photo cropping sessions where you pay a small fee for a certain time of use of the facilities. These seem to have great success because they also bring people who enjoy the activity together.
I would do some research, though, and pick a focus art rather than a general facility. I think you are more likely to get people to come and have the supplies they need without a huge cost
Posts: 1777 | Registered: Jan 2003
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Karl, are you talking about in the DC area? There was an artist group that did some work 5-6 years ago to try to get some artist/studio space in one of the gentrifying neighborhoods. I can't remember their name, but they must have data like this.
As for business, I think it'd be hard to price, but if the artists understand the true cost of space and equipment, they should be willing to pay what its worth. I think you'd need additional activities however - maybe classes or something similar, maybe coffee and cigarettes - to actually make enough to cover capital costs, insurance, security, and maintenance.
You'd also have to figure out what percentage of people would be active at once or give people schedules. That might work, if some people want night and weekend minutes only.
1) people have different tolerance for noise, and some things are inherently noisy.
2) space getting split up: cubicles sound like an icky idea, but some people will need more space than others, or need to bring in more equipment that can't be taken in and out.
3) people won't get along.
4) the pricepoint could be a problem, both for the artists, and for you to ensure that you're not losing money when artists drift in and out. ======= In Providence, you can rent artist mill space (especially in Pawtucket). Mill space rennovation has become a major investment, and the Pawtucket city govt is trying hard to bring in artisans. My circus group rents a space in one. I think it's rented at $5.5/sq-foot/year. If two artists got together and rented a space about 500 square feet, it would only be $115/mo/person for peace and quiet with only one other person.
So can you make the price of the space reasonable for what they can get on their own? I think it has to be special enough, really interesting enough for artists to want to join in.
What would be a bigger venture, but at least stand out is to offer an interesting building with separate rooms for rent, with a good amount of common space to share. It should have easy access to a local cafe, or some sort of mini-vending cafe included (muffins, coffee, soup). It should offer regular public gallery openings or open houses. Ideally, it would have its own storefront as a free perk for any artist who rented from you.
But that's obviously a huge investment. Still cool, though.
Posts: 1892 | Registered: Mar 2002
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In our community, local residents got together to acquire a shut-down elementary school. Art and music projects take place round the year for the annual "Parade of the Species" - an Earthday celebration. The whole community chips in with costs, fundraising, caretaking. There's a BOD to direct - and all ages participate. Plenty of space. Lots of folks. Great artwork and drumming. It's truly one of the neater things about this community because it really pulls together very diverse folks.
Posts: 5609 | Registered: Jan 2003
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The problem I have here is that I can never get any real work done at home; I live with my mom, and while we get along fine, she just assumes that if I'm home, I'm available to do stuff. Even when I was in school, homework had to be dropped if mom wanted to go somewhere or wanted me to do something. I'm not complaining, that's just the way it is.
So, I go to the library to get work done. However, my local branch library seems to have turned into the "community living room and pick-up point", especially for junior high and high school students. Now, in a town where there is nowhere else for kids to go, this is not generally a bad thing. However, it isn't that large a library and there have been a number of times when I've gone in there to find that there is literally nowhere left to sit and work. Also, there is no "quiet room" there, and there is no attempt to moderate the noise by the staff of the library. This makes it not such a good place to work now, at least a good part of the time.
I've always liked working in restaurants, as an alternative to home or the library. While I don't have a laptop to carry with me, I don't mind doing first drafts in longhand. The thing is, most restaurants will let you sit as long as you want, as long as they aren't busy and as long as you at least order a soda. However, this is a small town and I know way too many people here who don't take looking busy as a signal that one doesn't want to visit right at that time. Also, I don't do well with "So, what are you working on?" questions when I'm writing - I tend not to like to discuss works in progress, except with a couple of close friends who understand me and understand writing. Other people seem to think it's strange to work on a project for more than a few days, even if it is a book-length project. So, the restaurant option is out unless I drive fifteen or twenty miles into Fresno to sit and work. With current gasoline prices, I cannot do that on an every-day, or even an every-few-days basis.
So, heck yes, I'd use a writer's sanctuary as long as I could afford the monthly fee, and I'd probably be willing to skip a few meals to afford it.
Posts: 2454 | Registered: Jan 2003
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