Protecting Arts Spaces from Gentrification

With average annual earnings from art projects of around $5,000, the term “starving artist” is closer to reality than cliche. As a result, it is not uncommon for artists to live in marginalized communities. Most arts organizations that create new work have annual operating budgets of less than $50,000; the artists themselves subsidize the bulk of community culture. Grants from government and corporate sponsors account for less than 15% of arts budgets. Ironically, local artists generate significant, measurable economic impact to their communities, returning $8 for every $1 invested. While artists are often the drivers of community re-development, they are not always able to capitalize upon the value they create, as rising real estate values make it difficult to stay. Join Kiela Smith Upton, Legal Shield Independent Associate, and Laura Weathered, Executive Director of the Near Northwest Arts Council, for a discussion on design/build strategies to prevent displacement of local neighborhood artists.