Post by Ed Bronstein
(We got an email yesterday from painter and architect Ed Bronstein, who attended a meeting two days ago about the plans by Artspace Projects, a non-profit agency headquartered in Minneapolis, to build one or more affordable facilities for artists and/or arts organizations in or around Philadelphia. Here’s his report.–Libby and Roberta)
This was the second of two programs for artists – the first was the LINC Philadelphia Artists’ Forum held in July at Fleisher – that I found very exciting.
The target dates for the Artspace/William Penn work mentioned by Artspace Vice President Chris Velasco are that the study should be complete in the first half of 2006, with construction beginning around 18 months after that.
(That’s a pretty impressive/aggressive schedule, I think, but knowing something about Artspace’s past successes, I believe it will happen!)
The proposed projects will be for a minimum of 30 users and will consist of one or more of the following: work, live/work, performance, rehearsal, administrative, etc. space specifically for artists and/or arts organizations to rent at below market rates forever! Artspace structures their projects so that the rents will always remain affordable – in spite of the inevitable market value increase that usually occurs when artists “discover” [a neighborhood].
Questionaire now on line
Velasco’s presentation was made to announce that the first step is a questionaire to be filled out by all potentially interested artists and organizations. (I just took it myself. It’s easy and quick and will keep you in the loop as the project proceeds.)
I urge all–individual artists as well as arts organizations–to check it out and support the effort. I think it will really be a boost to the arts community.
–Post by painter Ed Bronstein
