Artists usually have unique needs when it comes to working spaces — ventilation, light, power supply — all these things are more important and come into play probably more than the average renter’s needs for a commercial space.
Oh, artists usually are working within a tight budget, too.
The City of Seattle’s Office of Arts & Culture has launched the site Spacefinder, “a matchmaking tool for artists and art spaces” to help facilitate the connection between working artist and space.
Spaces mostly include performance spaces right now, but there are also studios for rent, storage and even commercial kitchens. The spaces are geared toward musicians, actors, chefs and other creative types.
Artists can narrow their searches by a variety of factors, including space type, discipline and square footage, as well as needs like catering, bathroom access and power supply. For owners of venues, it’s another easy way to list their space in one place that directly appeals to the arts community. It’s a great idea, thanks to the City of Seattle.
The launch of Spacefinder comes as the city undergoes enormous change, driven in large part by the burgeoning technology industry which is driving up rents across the board.
In many cases, struggling artists have been squeezed out.
