Artspace Visit to Assess Development of Artist Live/Work Space in Tacoma
Representatives from Artspace, a nonprofit developer of artist live/work and studio spaces will be checking out Tacoma next month. Artspace specializes in creating, owning, and operating affordable spaces for artists and creative businesses. The organization’s projects include live/work housing for artists, studio spaces, arts centers, and commercial space for arts-friendly businesses and other projects.
On May 9 and 10 Artspace will lead tours, focus groups, and meetings on the feasibility of developing one of their artist live/work communities in Tacoma. The City of Tacoma and The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation invited the organization to visit Tacoma for a “pre-feasibility visit” paid for by a grant from Chase Bank. As a part of this visit, you are invited to attend a public meeting to find out more about Artspace and the potential for arts development in Tacoma at 7:00 p.m. on May 9. For details, see the press release.
Artspace owns and operates more than 30 projects in communities across the country, including the Tashiro Kaplan Artist Lofts/Tashiro Arts Building in Seattle’s Pioneer Square Historic District (pictured above). Communities interested in being home to an Artspace project invite the organization to assess the feasibility. According to the Artspace website, in an average year, they make 15 to 20 visits, of which two to four are typically picked for projects. Artspace’s mission is to create, foster and preserve affordable space for artists and arts organizations. The decision is based largely on project feasibility and viability, and on community support and engagement.
Tacoma has recently made moves to make development of live/work spaces easier, and we certainly have plenty of historic buildings and other underused spaces that would be nice to see activated. This kind of development shows up as as an option in many of the City’s long-term planning documents, like the South Downtown Subarea Plan, but there are also questions about whether it’s a feasible option for Tacoma. The visit from Artspace will be a chance to see how Tacoma measures up to the other communities Artspace has decided to invest in.
Artspace chooses cities for its developments where the community is engaged and supportive. So, are you?
Filed under: Arts, Developments, Events
4 comments
R Rize April 8, 2013
There used to be a bunch or artists living in the empty building on Tacoma Ave down by S. 25th St – but they were evicted. I hope this Artist Live/Work space is truly affordable and not too corporate.
T talus April 8, 2013
Totally supportive. Seattle’s T-K building is great. One thing to consider though is to avoid locating Tacoma’s ArtSpace in a neighborhood where it’s the only thing going on. I’ve heard complaints from friends in Seattle that the building is a great place to live and practice art, but they wish there was more happening in the neighborhood other than first Thursday and sporting events.
S Sid April 8, 2013
I think the T-K building people need to be thankful they have a roof over their head and get to do something they love.
F fred davie April 9, 2013
“The decision is based largely on project feasibility and viability, and on community support and engagement.”
What’s the meaning of “community support?” If that’s just a euphenism for tax support, I say no.We’ve got plenty of taxpayer supported outreach programs already.