The city of Memphis and the Hyde Family Foundation announced today that the city will receive $100,000 to fund affordable live/work space for artists in downtown’s South Main Arts District through one of only 51 “Our Town” grants awarded nationwide from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The funds will be used by Minneapolis-based ArtSpace to wrap up its work identifying a South Main property to be redeveloped into housing and studio space for local artists. In May, ArtSpace released a report justifying up to 70 units in a yet-to-be-determined downtown building. That number was determined through an online survey given to artists last fall. The ArtSpace units are tentatively expected to open in 2014.
“Memphis is extremely grateful for the continued support of the National Endowment for the Arts and the Hyde Family Foundations,” said Mayor A C Wharton. “Memphis is the creative capital of the south, and investing in affordable live-work space for artists will pay dividends culturally and economically for our entire city. Existing arts organizations, businesses, and other stakeholders in the South Main area have a great deal to look forward to as this project moves forward.”
