Local Artists Seek Creative Solutions to Space Issues
By Celeste Roche | Correspondent at February 20, 2024 | 9:30 am | Print
Hidden in plain view on West Main St., the New Britain Artists’ Cooperative is special housing for artists who seek to expand their practice into a livable profession. The idea was presented over a decade ago as a way to enhance the city’s downtown and round out an underappreciated arts district. However, time has painted a less than idealistic picture for residents of the Co-op.
“I would like to see us revisit and fulfill the original plans for the first floor: a gallery and café operated by residents,” said poet Damion Morgan, who has lived in the Cooperative “since the very beginning.”
Residents have discussed holding classes and workshops in the gallery: after school enrichment, adult education, holiday crafts and other events that would allow people from all walks of life to “play with their creative sides” under the guidance of professional and emerging artists.
There’s a problem, though: the artists do not own or have primary use of the first-floor gallery space. The first floor of the building is leased by the Downtown District. They maintain a calendar for use of the gallery space, and the Cooperative competes alongside other community organizations for time.
“I understand that they pay rent for the space, and that obviously helps,” says another resident, “but I also understand that properly managed art spaces are phenomenal for neighborhoods. We could be what people take the CTFastrak to come see, but we need the opportunity to have a consistent presence.”
Stephen Hard, Executive Director of the Greater New Britain Arts Alliance and a key figure in the development of the Co-op, says that having a public retail outlet is integral for the success of the group.
“I work everyday in Downtown, and there is no question that the members of the Co-op are involved in the community and making a difference way beyond their numbers,” said Hard. He said that he is hopeful that they will find suitable space to fully express their artistry to the public while earning livable profits.
Elliot Vallez, a painter who has been living in the Co-op for about five years, feels passionately about the lack of access to the gallery space. But that isn’t the only issue, he said. When asked what hurdles he foresaw for the Co-op, he laughed, “Alderhouse (the owner of the building) doesn’t exist.”
Alderhouse Residential Communities Inc. purchased the building from the City for $1 with the agreement that it would be refurbished as artists’ housing. Alderhouse is a non-profit developer and currently has no executive director. The artists’ co-operative in Middletown is also associated with Alderhouse.
Residents are concerned about the lack of communication with Alderhouse - the original plan was for the artists to take over ownership of the building, once incorporated, but the situation is foggy.
“We need support from the people who started the program,” said Carlos Gonzalez, an acclaimed watercolorist living in the Co-op. “We need support from Alderhouse.”
“We also need support from Connecticut Properties (property management company),” adds Morgan. Many members of the Co-op have expressed dissatisfaction with the communication between all three parties.
“I knew it was a mess when I signed the lease,” said another resident. “But I still believe that, like much of New Britain, it’s more than worth the effort necessary to clean it up.”
In the following weeks, the New Britain City Journal will be running pieces on each of the artists in the Co-op.
