Author: Educational Facilities Laboratories

Publication Year: 1975

Media Type: Report

Summary:

Abstract:

The doomsayers to the contrary, the arts are very much alive in America and are flourishing in their diversity and profusion. Many of the mushrooming arts activities are housed in buildings that were originally created for some other purpose. This is a good and natural development since historic conservation and neighborhood renewal are beginning to replace our cultural urge to tear down and build anew. It is also consistent with the undercapitalized and hand-to-mouth conditions of many arts organizations, especially those that are community based.

The Arts in Found Places is about arts activities in these adapted places. The report is not based on a formal comprehensive survey of the visual and performing arts field. The material evolved from the work of a writing and research team that followed leads which inevitably led to more leads, sent out some questionnaires for collecting detailed information, talked at length on the phone, participated in conferences and gleaned journals and reports. The high level of cooperation from all the people contacted was most remarkable, and suggests that those responsible for arts activities involving found space are proud of their accomplishments and are eager to share their story.

We've attempted to include a mix of building types, a variety of arts activity, and broad geographic representation. Some of the buildings have historical and architectural importance; others are anonymous buildings typical of the fabric of most of our communities. We have omitted many of the activities in the big cities and concentrated our attention on smaller towns and communities because their scale has significance for a large proportion of our readers.

The intent of the report is to communicate the variety and importance of the arts activities and how their use of found space has helped to stabilize and upgrade many communities. It is also an attempt to illuminate problems and creative solutions. EFL hopes The Arts in Found Places will encourage people wanting to organize a project to go ahead, and that they will benefit from the experience of those that have gone before.

We're especially appreciative of the support from the Architecture + Environmental Arts Program of the National Endowment for the Arts and the constructive working relationship that has resulted from this partnership.

CONTENTS
Foreword.

1. Recycling old spaces for new uses:

Old can be beautiful and useful.
The growth of community arts.
Hinterlands no longer: the arts everywhere and anywhere.
Upward and downward and sideways with the arts.
Fitting old spaces to the arts.

2. Space can be found in all shapes and sizes:

Storefronts and other small-scale commercial spaces.
G.A.M.E. is more than fun and games.
Obscure comedy at an obscure location.
Industrial and farm buildings - lofts, warehouses, factories, mills, and barns.
They said it couldn't be done.
Arts, crafts and commerce.
Our building is our artistic creation.
Artists rent studios, landlord donates gallery.
Specialized buildings in the private sector - churches, movie theatres, banks, railroad stations, social halls, roller rinks.
The magic you can't build into a new facility.
Eight years of experimentation pays off.
How to slip a theatre into a church.
Adding spaces to match ideas.
Public buildings - fire and police stations, schools, libraries, jails, bathhouses, and markets.
Artists flocked to jail, and saved it.
The arts replace produce.
Residential properties - mansions, houses, apartment houses.
Building the future on the past.
Where they live is what they live.
Two in Baton Rouge.
Groups of recycled buildings under one administration.
Boats and buildings in Bath, Maine.
Hotel ruins, warehouses, garage.
Sharing space and action.
Eight old buildings.

3. Cities and neighborhoods find spaces for the arts:

Pro tem or for keeps?
The way of two cities.
SoHo and so go the artists.
Restoration on the Gulf Coast.
Seattle puts the arts in found spaces.

4. The nuts and bolts of recycling for the arts:

Before you make a move.
Choosing the space.
Making the rehab work.
Performing arts.
Visual arts.
Living with your recycled space.

Information Sources: 
     Arts related publications.
     Picture credits.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Cultural Facilities, Cultural Diversity