BEFORE APPLYING TO AN ARTIST OPPORTUNITY: SU-SU-STUDIO: FINDING THE RIGHT SPACE (PART 3 OF 4)

Private or shared studio space? Requirements or restrictions necessary to your work? Consider these factors when looking for an artist workspace.

There comes a point in every artist’s life when they decide it’s time to move the easel out of the basement and into a place of its own: a studio! Every studio space comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, so it’s important to figure out exactly what you are looking for before you hit the streets for your search.

1. Private or Shared? The most important question you will be asked is if you are willing to share a space with other artists. Sharing a space is much cheaper and offers the possibility to collaborate and network in an exciting environment. For more money, you can go solo, which offers the possibility of working in your own personal Walden — a place of concentration and solitude where you can work as you please without worrying about disturbing other artists.
2. Location, Location, Location: Alright, so maybe it’s a little cliche at this point, but location remains one of the most important factors in deciding where to set up shop as an artist. Would you like a lot of foot traffic? Are there noise restrictions in the neighborhood? Is there easy access to necessary infrastructure? Maybe you want to work close to home, or near your favorite restaurant or bar. Some buildings are exclusively home to artists’ studios, and they may feature open studio time. Is working in this type of communal atmosphere attractive to you? Decide these things before you make a move.
3. The Bare Necessities? Is there anything you cannot live without? What good is a photography studio without a darkroom, or a ceramics studio without a kiln? Do you need high ceilings? A freight elevator? It may seem like common sense, but you should carefully consider your needs before becoming taken with a beautiful, inconvenient studio space.
4. The Lease of Your Worries: How is the studio space leased? Fixed-term leases may trap you in a contract if you need to leave immediately or vacate the space. If you want to sublet to another artist, check with the landlord to make sure you can. And, as always, read the contract!

NYFA Classifieds Spaces is your one-stop shop for finding the studio space that best serves your needs. 

Go Back to Part 2: Beware the Ides of Art
Next Part 3 of 4: No Appreciation Without Proper Representation

– Written by Sean Doolittle

Image: Installation image of La Crisalida exhibition in NYFA’s Gallery in Brooklyn, NY.