DOCA AND DCCC PRESENT RESULTS OF CREATIVE SPACE ONLINE SURVEY

On Wednesday, May 14, the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs and Denver County Cultural Council (appointed by Denver City Council to administer Scientific & Cultural Facilities District funds) presented the results of the Creative Space Online Survey.  A town hall meeting was held at the Oriental Theater with significant participation from Denver’s creative community. 

The Creative Space Online Survey was divided into two parts: 1) arts organizations and creative businesses and 2) individual artists.  The surveys were completed by 356 representatives from arts organizations and creative businesses and 610 individual artists in the seven-county metro Denver area.  The response rate represents the second largest number of respondents for similar surveys in other national markets, according to Artspace Projects, Inc., which conducted the survey. 

Overall, the results of the two-part Creative Space Online Survey indicate unmet demand for arts and cultural spaces in Denver.  These include:

• Live/work space for artists
• Studio space for artists
• Permanent and short-term space for arts organizations and creative businesses (e.g., performance/production, exhibition, education, etc.).

According to Peter Chapman, Executive Director of Seedco Financial-Denver, the survey response rate and subsequent results represent “an opportunity for lenders, foundations and policy makers to develop niche products and leverage investments in Denver’s creative sector to meet the untapped demand.”

Additional results from both surveys follow:

Survey of Arts Organizations and Creative Businesses

• 245 (69%) respondents are interested in utilizing space in a new facility or arts development
• Of the 245 arts organizations and creative businesses interested in space:
• 194 (79%) are interested in relocating to, expanding into or launching a new enterprise in a multiuse facility or arts development project in Denver; 178 (73%) are interested in renting space on a short-term or occasional basis
• 44 organizations would relocate to the City of Denver from other locations

Of organizations interested in relocation:

• 61% need administrative space
• 47% need gallery/exhibition space
• 45% need conference/meeting space
• 36% need specialized work space (e.g., woodshop)
• 35% need performance/production space

Of organizations interested in short-term or occasional rental:

• 37% seek gallery/exhibition space
• 34% seek theater/performance space
• 27% seek conference/meeting space

Survey of Individual Artists

• 362 (59%) artists are interested in relocating to a live/work Project
• 130 (21%) artists are interested in studio-only rental

Of artists interested in relocation:

• 41% of these artists do not have dedicated space for their art; 22% do not have the space that they need for their art
• 32% of the artists’ household incomes are at or below 60% of area median income (AMI)
• 30% can pay less than $800/month; 35% can pay $900-$1,200/month
• 177 (49%) artists earn less than 10% of their income from their primary art pursuits

Of artists interested in studio rental:

• 33% currently do not have space they use specifically for their arts activities
• 66% of artists require space of 500 square feet or less
• 90% of artists prefer to locate studios in Central Denver; 51% would locate to northwest Denver
• 47% can afford less than $250/month; 41% can afford between $350-$500/month

 According to Artspace, the market data supports the creation of up to 121 affordable live/work units and 139 studio or work-only spaces.

Background and Objectives

In the fall of 2007, the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs and Denver County Cultural Council partnered with Artspace Projects, Inc. to conduct a study of the space needs of arts organizations, creative businesses and individual artists of all artistic disciplines in the seven-county metro Denver area.  The study examined the need for creative space and identified the types of space required. The objectives of the study were to:

• Assess the demand for creative space in Denver
• Articulate specific space needs, design elements, amenities and building features that artists, arts organizations and creative businesses prefer or require
• Describe the artists, arts organizations and creative businesses interested in space

DOCA and DCCC are excited about the potential use of this information to inform future development of affordable space for arts organizations, creative businesses and artists. 

The mission of the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs is to advance the arts and culture in the City and County of Denver.

 The mission of the Denver County Cultural Council is to determine the allocation and disbursement of annual Denver Tier III Scientific & Cultural Facilities District funds.

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