Artspace survey finds Chattanooga viable for facility

photo David Ruiz looks at results of a survey conducted by Artspace Projects Inc. that assessed the space needs of those working in the arts and creative industries in Chattanooga at Chattanooga Workspace on Tuesday.

BY THE NUMBERS• 591: Number of people who filled out the survey• 316 (54 percent): People who expressed an interest in relocating to an affordable live/work community• 210 (36 percent): People who expressed an interest in renting studio or creative work space. (A total of 108 of those expressed interest in renting space only; 102 expressed interest in both living and renting space)• 157 (27 percent): People who expressed an interest in renting studio or creative space on an occasional basis• 96: Organizations and businesses that completed the survey• 74 (77 percent): Businesses or organizations that said a multi-use arts facility would be attractive to them• 63: Number of those 74 businesses that said they would be interested in relocating, expanding into or launching a new enterprise in a new, multiuse facility in the areaSource: Artspace Projects Inc. survey

Members of Chattanooga's creative community are indeed interested in having a live work facility that would offer them affordable housing and a place to work, according to findings of a survey done last spring by Artspace Projects Inc.

The findings were presented to the community Tuesday night at Chattanooga WorkSpace, a facility that offers rental space and studios for artists, but not living space.

The survey was conducted last March-May in partnership with ArtsBuild and the Benwood and Lyndhurst foundations. The combined "Survey of Artists and Creative Individuals' Space Needs and Preferences" and "Survey of Arts, Creative and Cultural Organizations and Businesses" found that there is a large enough demand, a diverse pool of artists/creatives touching a variety of demographics and a sufficient number of businesses that would be interested in moving their operations here to take advantage of a multiuse arts facility.

"The short answer is Artspace found that this is potentially a good market for what they do," says Rodney Van Valkenberg, director of grants and initiatives with ArtsBuild, which is serving as facilitator for Artspace, a Minneapolis-based organization that develops housing and studio spaces for artists and has built 35 such complexes in 14 states over the past 35 years.

The projects, according to Wendy Holmes, senior vice president of consulting with Artspace, attract creative people with low-priced housing. These artists then, hopefully, provide a spark that leads to improved neighborhoods.

In the Artspace plan, the rent for the artist is determined by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development parameters. The rent is re-evaluated yearly, but it is designed to remain low in order to keep the creative types living there to prevent gentrification, Holmes says.

The entire process of getting such a facility built here or elsewhere can take anywhere from three to five years, in part because the related tax incentives are offered only once or twice a year. It's once a year in Tennessee, according to Dan Bowers, ArtsBuild president.

"It's glacial," he says of the process. "It's also very competitive."

There are no Artspace facilities in Tennessee, though Memphis is pursuing one as well. The closest such facility in the South is in Louisiana.

Artspace will spend the next several months looking for local properties that could provide spaces large enough for artists and their families to live in, and room enough to work. In most Artspace facilities, the first floor is devoted to retail space, which helps drive revenue and traffic. They also have a communal space for showcasing artists' work.

Artspace representatives began the process in September 2013 by doing a feasibility study. The surveys were conducted last spring, and the next step is determining a project location and size. In other communities, Artspace has renovated existing properties, built new properties or done a combination of the two.

No two facilities are the same, as they are driven by the number and needs of the artists. Artspace looks for diversity, but it also looks for demographics that might determine how the facility should be configured.

"If you have a large number of dancers, for example, a dance studio might be included," Bowers says.

It does not want a facility of all dancers, or all painters or all sculptors, he says. The Chattanooga survey revealed a wide range of creative types, as well as diverse ages, income levels and needs.

"They want a good number of respondents, but also a viable pool," says Van Valkenberg, "and, they found that here."

Participating in the survey provides no guarantee of getting a space, should the facility be completed, though Artspace is using the completed survey to help steer it toward finding a location.

"Preferably they would like to be near downtown," Bowers said.

An application process will take place in the coming months.

Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.

Upcoming Events