Olympia group finds interest in promoting affordable live-work spaces for people who create
By Andy Hobbs, The Olympian (Olympia, Wash.) | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Some local artists already embrace the concept. One example is The Nuit House, an artist collective at
Five artists live in the four-bedroom house, which measures 2,662 square feet. The artists represent painting, writing, music and film. The basement serves as a work space that includes art tools, a drum kit and a painting room.
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Prospective tenants must "show their work" and prove they put effort into being artists. Likewise, collective living means cheaper living: Artists at the house pay
"If the rent went up here, there's no way any of the artists could afford to live here anymore," Ningishzidda said. "Most artists are poor."
Ningishzidda co-manages the collective with her boyfriend, m1thr0s (pronounced "menthros"), who specializes in sacred geometry art. Eventually, the collective's founders want the house to double as a gallery.
"If we could pepper the whole town with art collectives, I'd be a happy camper," said m1thr0s. "The collective concept also opens the possibility to artists spending more money on art."
As one of three new residents at The Nuit House,
"It's stimulating when you're around creative people," said Buxton, who has long supported the idea of a self-sustaining artist community.
Aside from affordable housing, he said, artists also need room to "get down and dirty" with paints, sculptures and theater set pieces.
"What we need is not some sort of cathedral to the arts," Buxton said. "We need a place where people can work."
Released this month, the ArtSpace survey asked nearly 700 participants about building "live-work" spaces for artists. About 200 respondents are interested in relocating to an affordable arts community in
ArtSpace supporters say the presence of more downtown housing can act as an economic catalyst. The survey reveals that up to 52 live-work spaces can be supported in downtown
Although she supports the ArtSpace concept, State of the
Moody has owned State of the Arts in downtown
"This is a labor of love," said Moody, who has a 200-square-foot art studio at her home a couple of miles away.
"I haven't drawn a salary in 22 years."
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