City Seeks Feedback From Artists
The City of Tacoma is asking local artists for input on what they would want from a live/work space. A survey asks artists of all disciplines to answer questions about their current living and working situations, and their possible desire for new accommodations. Artists are asked to complete the survey even if they are not currently looking for a change, and even if they don’t currently live in Tacoma. Questions ask artists to rate the importance of various needs they might have in a studio space, as well as potential shared amenities, and poses various scenarios for rented or owned spaces.
This survey comes ahead of next month’s visit to Tacoma from Artspace on May 9 and 10. The nonprofit developer of artist spaces will be in town to assess Tacoma as a potential site for one of their projects. The visit will include a public meeting on May 9.
The Tacoma Arts blog announcing the survey describes the potential for artist live/work developments:
Artist live/work developments can be catalytic to communities providing affordable housing that meet both residential and professional needs of artists. Artist live/work projects are productive creative centers that can become destinations and anchor neighborhoods.
So, artists, what would an ideal live/work space look like for you? And non-artists, what do you think of this potential adaptive re-use for some of Tacoma’s underutilized buildings?
Filed under: Arts, Get Involved, City Government
4 comments
G Go Green April 16, 2013
I think it would be neat if there was a ChromaKey studio in town. With a Chroma Key or Green Screen studio for rent that photo and video artists could rent reasonably for $15 to $20 an hour would be nice.
With Tacoma’s location and amount of artists around… The city could take some of the best (no nudity) work and showcase it on an electronic billboard on I-5 showcasing local artist’s work… Too soon? Electronic Billboards…
Well who cares? It would keep me entertained on I-5 in traffic jams.
F fred davie April 18, 2013
Why is it the role of city taxpayers to subsidize artists work spaces? If your artwork is so unworthy that nobody will buy it maybe you should try a more traditional career.
The city mission is to provide necessary services on a cost effective basis. It doesn’t say anything in the mission statement about squandering scarce tax resources on bad art.
S Sid April 18, 2013
Ths thread should have been filled with posts by local artists by now. Where are they? Let’s get in here and let the people know that you would appreciate the help. I know many of them and most know what exit133 is. There is that great old Goodwill building that sits empty on Tacoma Ave right around the 20’s. Maybe it can be renovated and used for these purposes.
M Mark April 27, 2013
It would be great if they not only developed a space in downtown Tacoma, but Nalley Valley and South Tacoma as well. This city also needs an art college, we have an art high school but when the kids graduate where do they go?, Seattle, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles. Tacoma could be an incredibly interesting city with the addition of these facilities, we already have a good start with the museums here, I see no reason why these things can’t be done. If this city want’s to be taken seriously and overcome the “little man complex” the city government should get on the ball with this right away.