Help us get our West Wing Community Studio Launched!
Help us fill this space with creativity and community!What is it?
This is the downstairs, west wing classroom that is adjacent to the gallery and across the courtyard at the Art Center. The county has come through and redone the floors, painted the walls, and we’re ready to get classes going in there again. The problem? We need the right tools, supplies, and materials to get things off the ground. Since the space was occupied for a decade by a local club who recently moved out, we hadn’t been able to get into the space and really evaluate it for community use. Now we have a clean, bright, and waiting studio, we just need help crossing the finish line and getting it open by the holidays!
What do we need?
We have a used (very used) Kiln, 6 pottery wheels, several working and some non-working sewing machines, and a lot of basic supplies. What we don’t have is the right storage, accessible tables and chairs, magnifiers, a jewelry bench, and NEW supplies. We have said it before; students feel more valued when their supplies are new. Additionally, this space will be used by several artists “in residence” who need studio space to create their work for shows, fairs, and to help their small creative businesses thrive. We help them by providing clean, modern spaces with tools that are in good working order, safe, and accessible. While we appreciate any and all donations of supplies, our goal is to start this studio off right with supplies that are up to date, do not need repairs or immediate maintenance, and are useable by a variety of skill sets.
Who does this benefit?
Everyone really! Our goal is to make the space phsycially and financially accessible to any artist, student, teacher, or maker who needs more space to play and create. While we are focused on providing supplies that are more geared to adults in this space, family and youth programming will also take place down here. The goals is not a sterile room to come make something and leave, we want to create a thriving maker and play space for those who lack the space at home, or just need somewhere to build community on our campus. Because this room is located on a ground floor, it is more accessible than our upstairs classrooms which will continue to operate as well, but will be prioritized for youth and family programs as well as private studio use for artists who need a bit more quiet to create.
Once the studio is ready, we’ll launch classes, montly memberships, reservations for our pottery wheels, sewing machines, heat press, and jewelry benches. And anything else the community wants to help us create.
Join usWe know not everyone can donate or financially support the programs that we provide. That should never prevent anyone from participating. We offer scholarships to all of our community studio programs, volunteer programs for those who want to share their skills with others in exchange for a community space to practice their craft, and have always believed that art and creativity should never be gatekept behind a paywall. If you need financial assitance or would like to volunteer, please reach out to info@laac-flac.org to learn more.
A portion of this studio renewal process is funded thanks in part to a grant from the McCune Foundation and private donors from around Northern New Mexico.
