advocate for affordable art space
The Near NorthWest Arts Council, a non-profit organization directed by artists to advocate for resources that supports affordable space for creative work. Our vision is to build a vital, healthy, sustainable, fully accessble community.
Our values embrace democratic control and social equity.
Artists are at a critical juncture in advocating for sustainable space and we need your support.
Our values embrace democratic control and social equity.
Artists are at a critical juncture in advocating for sustainable space and we need your support.
artist housing
NNWAC has actively worked to change public policy in issues critical to artists with a focus on economic development, affordable housing, zoning and ownership. It took twelve years to achieve the work/live condo development, Acme Artists Community, to the transfer the $3.5 million investment into the private control of the artists as property owners.
NNWAC worked directly with artists to design, develop and build a 25 unit work/live condo community in a 46,000 square foot industrial building. NNWAC conducted a feasibility study for the project connecting with artist housing developers in six major US cites. NNWAC board and its advisors contributed professional experience in design, planning, and marketing. NNWAC hired the project development team with proven professional expertise in design, finance, legal and adult training. NNWAC knowledge base includes an infrastructure of planning documents related to space that include partnership agreements, cooperative management plan, property lease agreements, and financial planning workshops. The limited equity provisions demonstrate a key innovation; a legal component that protects the future viability of an artist owned work/live community. NNWAC is forward thinking, as one of only three artist housing developments nation wide that developed artist owned space. The project succeeded in three major goals: to avoid the displacement in the face of dynamic gentrification, to limit the effect of increasing property taxes, and to insure sustainable artist community with durable, green construction.
NNWAC worked directly with artists to design, develop and build a 25 unit work/live condo community in a 46,000 square foot industrial building. NNWAC conducted a feasibility study for the project connecting with artist housing developers in six major US cites. NNWAC board and its advisors contributed professional experience in design, planning, and marketing. NNWAC hired the project development team with proven professional expertise in design, finance, legal and adult training. NNWAC knowledge base includes an infrastructure of planning documents related to space that include partnership agreements, cooperative management plan, property lease agreements, and financial planning workshops. The limited equity provisions demonstrate a key innovation; a legal component that protects the future viability of an artist owned work/live community. NNWAC is forward thinking, as one of only three artist housing developments nation wide that developed artist owned space. The project succeeded in three major goals: to avoid the displacement in the face of dynamic gentrification, to limit the effect of increasing property taxes, and to insure sustainable artist community with durable, green construction.
NNWAC is a partner in the Bronzeville Artist Lofts, a mixed use rental property which provides 16 work/live studios on 47th Street completed in 2014, and award winning project. The spaces are as stunning, as the the artist community.
NNWAC worked with The Community Builders in 2015, to develop the Cornerstone Apartments, a new construction with an Artist preference as residential apartments. One 6 unit building at 633 50th Street and one 8 unit building at 613 E 50th Street. The 8 unit building includes shared community space for residents of both building providing rehearsal space, a dance floor and a practice room for musicians, as well as meeting room space.
NNWAC worked with The Community Builders in 2015, to develop the Cornerstone Apartments, a new construction with an Artist preference as residential apartments. One 6 unit building at 633 50th Street and one 8 unit building at 613 E 50th Street. The 8 unit building includes shared community space for residents of both building providing rehearsal space, a dance floor and a practice room for musicians, as well as meeting room space.
nnwac offers fiscal agent services
Artists frequently work in small groups, are mostly funded out of pocket and operate below the radar. Dance, music, theater, media and visual artists do not often find opportunities to collaborate across disciplines. Factory space is well suited for experimental work, but is not legal for hosting audiences due to zoning and life safety issues. Established venues are often too big for the intimacy required by cabaret, poetry, dance, jazz and experimental music. Acme Art Works is our proposed project space, and NNWAC invites artists to join as investor/owners, to curate projects, to workshop ideas with intense collaboration. We purposefully create opportunities across disciplines to learn more effective strategies from each other.
NNWAC is open to ideas, and we seek partners to inhabit, collaborate and build the new incubator space.
NNWAC is open to ideas, and we seek partners to inhabit, collaborate and build the new incubator space.