Artist subsidized living has allowed lower income artists in metropolitan areas all over the country to live comfortably and infuse their communities with raw, creative energy.
In the SLC, you’‘re probably thinking the Rubber Company lofts—-the hip artist living spaces behind Caputo’‘s Market. These spaces were developed with the help of some generous donors under the umbrella of the Rubber Company’‘s parent group, Artspace.
So how does an up-and-coming artist get hooked up with a redeveloped loft downtown, close enough to smell the “Gabagool” at Caputo’‘s? If you’‘ve got the skills, start looking into Artspace.
According to its website, Artspace is a “501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation founded in 1980. Artspace’‘s mixed-use projects incorporate affordable housing and commercial spaces such as artist studios, galleries, offices for nonprofits and small retail shops. Artspace projects are catalysts for revitalizing the neighborhood and spurring further positive development.” Sounds great, right? Based on the success of the Rubber Company and Artspace’‘s other spots, we think so too.
The group is run by two directors, Jessica Norie and Jackie Skibine, and by a fairly stacked Board of Trustees that includes Pete Ashdown of XMission, several high powered bankers (who would have thought?), and the Dean of the University of Utah’‘s College of Architecture, Brenda Case Scheer. So if you’‘re wondering whether or not this nouveau artist co-op found its legs in the back corner of a seedy coffee shop, it didn’‘t.
The other thing Artspace provides is a great concentration of material for the Salt Lake City Gallery Strolls. These monthly happenings allow you, the seasoned buyer of fine art that you are, the opportunity to view a whole slew of galleries and meet the artists showcasing their work. With five active projects and a pending development on 800 South and 423 West, the Artspace project has the pull to draw more quality art to the area.