Props to Katie for passing this highly interesting announcement along …
Spartanburg will soon have an all arts cooperative. A labor of love and sweat equity project. If you need “affordable” studio space for creating and exhibiting your art then attend the meeting scheduled for 5:30pm, Tuesday, 22 September at 578 West Main in Spartanburg. This is the old West Main Baptist Church located next to the Coca Cola plant. A cooperative set up to support 2D, 3D, photography, print making, graphic arts, architecture, interior design, ceramics, jewelery, writers, musicians, and possibly theater is planned, your imagination is your limit. If you make original art then affordable space in this 20,000 Sq ft building might just be what you need. If you require additional information prior to the meeting contact Howard Solomon at 864-285-0386(leave message and number).
A lot remains to be seen, of course, but just the idea that someone is even considering an arts co-operative in Spartanburg, let alone actually doing it, is very surprising to me. I expected this sort of thing in maybe a few years, and probably in some out of the way old warehouse, but repurposing a fairly cool old church is something I didn’t expect.
I’ve sent out an e-mail asking for more details, and hopefully I’ll have the whole scoop soon.
Steve Shanafelt
WOAH.
i hope it’s relatively affordable.
when i’ve been booking shows for tours and outings, i find that a lot of larger cities have “co-op” spaces the size of walk-in closets that cost upwards of $500 for a four-hour evening, depending upon what medium you’d be using the space for. it’s a pretty big bummer when you want to play somewhere like Pittsburgh of Olympia, but don’t want to play a sports bar.
hopefully this will work out, and suit Spartanburg too!
I have toured this space and it is amazing. It will be a great asset to Spartanburg, and hopefully will help bridge the arts momentum downtown to the west side.
The space is huge and in wonderful condition. Thanks to Howard for having the vision and generosity to undertake something like this for Spartanburg!