Making the case

Convincing the community of the benefits of artist space is essential to any successful project.

Making the case to the the local community, public officials, other developers, and artists for why an artist space should become a part of their community is key to any successful development.

Things to find out before you start

Several factors are crucial in politically positioning artist space and making the case for their support. You should find these out before you start with any development; ArtistLink can help with this process.

 Artist Space History

• Is there a track record of artist spaces in your community? Do artists, nonprofit and for-profit developers, lenders, funders, and regulatory agencies have experience with artist space? Has this experience been positive or negative?
• Advocates for artist space. Are there advocates for artist space, such as artists, community or neighborhood groups, politicians, funders, or lenders? Are artists organized and vocal in supporting artist space? Does the arts community see artist space as a priority?
• Artist Space intermediary. Is there an experienced agency or individual(s) who can help bring all the needed parties together? Can this intermediary effectively deal with the involved parties? ArtistLink can help be this intermediary for your community, but having a local party also makes sense.

Special Initiatives That Include Artists

• Political climate. Is the city trying to attract artists as residents or business owners? Do artists have financial or other incentives to locate there?
• Special designations that can include artists. Are other groups that might include artists being targeted for special programs? Small businesses? Low-income populations?
• Policy priorities or programs potentially intersecting with artist space. Is there commitment to other issues that can be consistent with or enhanced by artist space, such as an interest in the creative economy, creative clusters, economic development, or historic preservation?

Making the Case

People involved in the development of artists’ spaces find themselves advocating for these projects to funders and gatekeepers in the arts, community development, and urban revitalization policy realms and sometimes to individual investors interested in viable and profitable business options.

The arguments you can put forward for support of artist spaces fall into three basic categories:

1. Community economic development and social improvements,
2. Viable business ventures, and
3. Services to artists.

1. Community Economic Development and Social Improvements

At community planning processes, public meetings and in written documentation about proposed artist space, you can present artists as catalysts for economic and/or community development. You can talk about how artists will put their artistic talents to use in support of community residents. Emphasize the community benefit of multipurpose community spaces as well as arts community programming. You might find that working with local community development corporations (CDCs) will be an endorsement for in the eyes of some lenders and funders who have a comfort level in working with CDCs and no or little experience in working with artists. CDCs might also be able to help you build community confidence in the project. All Massachusetts CDCs can be found at www.macdc.org

2. Business Ventures

If you are trying to attract funding primarily from private investors and commercial lenders, you might want to present your project as a commercial market developers are seeking to target. For this, you will need fairly detailed market research on artists in the area, which can be used to persuade prospective investors of the viability of the deal. If artist participants can be identified by the outset, then marketability is not as much of an issue.  It is a more recommended method to find artists who are seeking space first and work with a group to develop a space. The economic potential of "creative clusters" (concentrations of arts and design-related businesses and establishments) coupled with appreciation for artists’ other contributions to communities should be emphasized.

3. Services for Artists/Artists’ Needs

You might also choose to focus on services for artists, or artists’ special needs, such as the need for spaces suitable for the type of artwork made (e.g., sculpture, music, dance, etc.) as well as spaces where artists can share equipment and commune to critique work. You will basically be promoting the fact that artists are a valid professional working population with specific business related needs. Particularly important is to present artists as a professional population and the investment of artists’ sweat-equity in improving properties.

Impacts

When you are advocating for artist space as either of the three options, you should consider  talking about the impacts that space will have on the following:

Impacts on Artists

The impacts on artists fall into three categories:

• impacts on artists’ careers and professional development, such as the creation of artists’ networks and access to venues for peer criticism;
• impacts on artists’ relationships to the broader community, such as increased interaction between artists and community residents, demystification of artists at work and the artistic process, and increased recognition of artists as workers and professionals; and
• impacts related to artist space availability and development infrastructure, such as the creation of artist-developers, advocates, and intermediaries.

Impacts on the Broader Community

The impacts on the community include the spiritual, physical, social, and economic impacts of artist space.

• Spiritual impact on the quality of life.  
• Physical impacts included reducing blight, animating vacant property, and preserving historical buildings.
• Social impacts included increasing arts programs for residents, diversifying low income communities, and developing youth.
• Economic impacts included increasing job opportunities, developing real estate and increasing real estate value, and promoting creative clusters.