Storefronts Seattle and Spaceworks Tacoma – two great organizations with one great idea!
Neighborhoods, property owners, local businesses and government (Wow! That’s quite a crowd!) all come together to use empty retail spaces in both Seattle and Tacoma. And if you’ve walked down some neighborhood streets over the past few years, sadly, you know there’s a lot of space available.
Kristin Tollefson 2011 Exhibit at 409 Maynard Avenue South, Seattle
Some of the formerly-vacant storefronts have been filled with life — sparked by the work of local artists and creative businesses. The Seattle and Tacoma programs both look for artists, groups and creative businesses that will engage the community and produce high quality work to display or sell. The intent is to bring vitality and interest to various neighborhoods, while providing a low (and in some cases, no) cost workspace alternative. Hard to beat a deal like that!
Storefront rents are either donated by the property owners, or paid for by program grants. In some cases, the “free rent” participants have become so successful that they have signed leases on some formerly vacant locations. Tina Witherspoon, owner of glam.spoon and a fabulous designer of women’s clothing made from vintage and recycled materials, recently did a blog post about one of Storefront Seattle’s artists, Tuesday Scarves. Tina is on the list for the program and I can hardly wait to see what great fashions she’ll be sharing with us in her new shop!
Chairs before Modern Cottage, a Tacoma Spaceworks participant, does its magic
Both the Seattle and Tacoma programs have been in place since 2010, and have been very successful. Property owners and communities benefit by having their storefronts filled, “beautification” of an area, getting more people to come and visit their neighborhoods, and increasing safety. All these things in turn help other businesses in the area.
Artists and creative businesses benefit by being able to create, showcase or sell their work to a large and diverse audience at a drastically reduced cost. They can also try out a business strategy with little financial risk and gain the experience they need to move their creativity to a new level. Both artists and communities benefit by building strong relationships with one another.
Chairs after being rescued by Modern Cottage
Usually the use of a storefront is for a limited time, so if there’s a specific exhibit or business you’d like to see, make sure to visit before something new takes its place. If you’d like to donate to either of these great programs, click Storefronts Seattle and Spaceworks Tacoma.
Related Articles
- Things to Do in Seattle: Visit the International District (localistseattle.wordpress.com)
- Storefront Seattle: taking art to the street (window) (mentalflowers.wordpress.com)
- glam.spoon Tuesday Scarves
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