COMPUTERS
AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE SURVEY DURINGCHRISTMAS STROLL - ARTWALK - FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5TH
COMPUTERS
AVAILABLE FOR ONLINE SURVEY DURING
CHRISTMAS STROLL - ARTWALK - FRIDAY,
DECEMBER 5TH
Two Artwalk stops have offered to supply computers for easy online completion of the artist survey. Artists, musicians, writers and anyone interested in a live/work artist neighborhood in downtown Billings can stop in and quickly take the survey at:
McCormick Cafe - 2419 Montana Ave. and Grafix Studio - 504 A2 N. 20th St.
PROJECT UPDATE - November 25, 2008
Raw data - so far...
171 artists have taken the survey
32 are 19-36 years of age
89 would be interested in renting studio space
54 would relocate to a live/work project in Billings
Of those not interested:
44 (61%) stated their current space fits their needs
26 (36%) are not interested in Billings
32 organizations and businesses have taken the survey
15 would be interested in relocating, expanding or opening a new business
16 would rent space on a short term or occasional basis
PROJECT UPDATE - November 17, 2008
130 artists have taken the survey - 36 have expressed an interest in relocating to a live/work project in Billings - 67 have expressed an interest in renting studio-only space in Billings (note that some artists may have indicated interest in both renting and relocating. We assume if given the opportunity they would choose one or the other, but not both)Of those not interested in space reasons that are given include: 34 (62%) state that their current living or working space meets their needs 18 (33%) are not interested in Billings (presumably many may live or work outside of Billings or commuting distance)
Of the responding artists: The majority are 46 years of age or older and, 22 are between the ages of 19-36 (I know you are working hard to reach these younger artists. The survey results so far are showing that the percentage of older artists interested in live/work space is lower than with the younger artists. Just incentive to keep working in this direction of outreach) 27 organizations have taken the survey - 13 are interested in relocating, expanding or launching a new business 7 of these 13 are very or extremely interested. 2 of the respondents are non-arts, but arts-friendly businesses. The rest are arts organizations or creative businesses. The numbers are continuing to increase. That is a positive thing!
Attention Artists and Arts Organizations!
The Billings Artspace survey - launched on Tuesday, October 14th.
Beginning on October 14th, click on this link www.artspacebillings.org to participate in a short survey to help Artspace Projects better understand your living and working space needs and/or your arts organization's space needs. This information will help us determine what size and type of facility would best serve the Billings community.
You are invited to attend a reception to announce the launch on Tuesday, October 14
5 – 6:30pm at the historic Babcock Theater
There will be a short presentation by representatives from Artspace Project out of Minneapolis with information about the project and the survey.
Wine and snacks will be served!
Bring a friend and learn more about this exciting community project.
Please forward this email to all of your friends in the arts community!
Welcome to Billings Artspace Project
As far back as territorial times, Billings, Montana, has always been a center for development and change in Montana and the West. First it was the coming of the railroad, then oil and gas development. Today Billings has developed into one of the major centers of commerce, banking, medical and cultural development in the region. We are proud to announce that Billings is once again breaking new frontiers in sustainable and diverse development through our work with Artspace Project, the nation’s leading non-profit real estate development corporation based in Minneapolis. In the next few years, we hope to have a downtown building for dancers, musicians, writers, painters, sculptors…artists of all kinds…to live in and work, meet, exhibit and celebrate.
With the help of the Billings city council, the Downtown Partnership and Urban Design committee, the Billings Artspace Project is working with the arts and cultural community to develop affordable LIVE/WORK space in the core downtown area of Billings. This project, which has been 10 years in the planning, will do more then just provide living and studio workspace for all kinds of artists. It could also provide an incubator environment for big and small non-profit cultural and community service organizations, classrooms and meetings spaces, along with gallery space and retail space in the downtown community.
We invite you to return to this website often to learn more about the development of the Billings Artspace Project. We hope you’ll share your thoughts with us and, hopefully, get involved. This is a project that will benefit all of Billings; it will diversify the downtown area of Billings, enhance the arts and cultural experience in Billings, provide much needed affordable housing in the downtown area and possibly help to restore or renovate a historic building and redevelop a neglected area of Billings. The Artspace Project is a low-cost investment for the community with high return on the investment. The project will pay city taxes which is a win for the city and taxpayers as well.
Please feel free to contact me at anytime.
Jack W. Nickels Jack_nickels@bresnan.net
Volunteer Project Facilitator