Artspace Survey—The Results Are In

Columbus-area artists and arts organizations need more space for studios, live/work spaces and arts-friendly businesses, according to a study released in August by the Greater Columbus Arts Council.

The “Survey of Artists and Arts Organizations,” conducted by Artspace Projects Inc. and Swan Research and Consulting, will determine the parameters of an artist live/work project led by Artspace, a nationally recognized organization whose mission is to create, foster and preserve affordable space for artists and arts organizations. The survey was sponsored by Columbus City Council, JPMorgan Chase and the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation.

GCAC, which has been working with Artspace to garner support for this initiative, announced the survey results, including the following points:

• Arts spaces of all type are needed in Columbus, including live/work space for artists and their families, studio and work spaces for artists to rent, permanent spaces for cultural organizations and arts-friendly businesses and performance/exhibition/conference spaces.
• More than 60 percent of artists who responded to the survey would relocate to a multipurpose arts facility in Columbus.
• 69 percent of arts organizations and businesses who responded to the survey would relocate to a multipurpose facility.
• Over half of the artists interested in live/work space (58%) currently do not have space they use specifically for their arts activities.
• A new arts facility is of interest to artists of all ages. Over half of the interested artists are 30 years of age or younger, while 14 percent are over 50.

A total of 387 individual artists completed a survey designed for artists, and 108 people representing 99 separate organizations or businesses completed a survey designed to evaluate the space needs of arts and cultural organizations and arts-friendly businesses. Based on the results, Artspace has recommended an initial Columbus project of 35 to 60 live/work units, along with a non-housing component for businesses and cultural organizations.

Using the survey results, Artspace will work within the community to determine a final location, size and layout for the project and to raise funds to begin construction.

A full copy of the “Survey of Artists and Arts Organizations” report is available on GCAC’s Web site, gcac.org.

September

Michael Slack: Wax Pack, Rivet, Through 9/30

The Swell Season, CAPA, 9/22

Grants for Local Musicians, Grandview Heights Public Library, 9/25

2008 Manhattan Short Film Festival, Wexner Center Film/Video Theater, 9/26

20/20 2008, Tribhanga School of Dance, 9/27

The Sound of Music, Little Theater Off Broadway, Through 9/27

The Singular Landscape: New Work by Rod Bouc, ODU’s Wehrle Art Gallery, Through 9/29

Arts in Work Spaces: Features Works by Artists of Terra Gallery, Caspian II, Through 9/30

October

Deborah Lapatina & John Hegener, Hayley Gallery, Through 10/10

Vaughn Weister's Famous Jazz Orchestra, Columbus Maennerchor, Through 10/13

World Premiere Bebe Miller Company Necessary Beauty, Wexner Center, 10/1-10/5

First Annual Glass Pumpkin Patch, Glass Axis, 10/3-10/4

WildFest - Fall Festival!, Presented by Ohio Wildlife Center, 10/4

Short North Gallery Hop, Short North Business Association, 10/4

Dracula, BalletMet, 10/10-10/18

Boo at the Zoo, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 10/17-10/26

All Hallow's Eve, Ohio Historical Center/Ohio Historical Society, 10/18-10/25

The Pearl Fishers, Opera Columbus, 10/24-10/26

November

Milonga Fuego, JC Entertainment, Through 11/28/2008

COLOR: Ten African American Artists, Ohio Designer Craftsmen, 9/14-11/2/2008

Huck Finn's American Song, Phoenix Theatre Circle, 10/31-11/9

Short North Gallery Hop, Short North Business Association, 11/1

Drawing for Beginners with Janet Waggoner, Grandview Heights Public Library, 11/13

Student Division Winners Film Screening, Columbus Int’l Film & Video Festival, 11/13

The Full Monty, Emerald City Players, 11/21-12/6

Sing We Now of Christmas, Lancaster Chorale, 11/30