TACOMA, Wash. - Inside a cramped 50-square-foot bedroom cluttered with canvasses and unfinished pieces, artist Jeremy Gregory gets to work. A lounge chair has become a make-shift easel holding part of a project. Jeremy would love more creative space.
Jeremy and other artists may have an opportunity to spread out in one of downtown Tacoma's vacant storefronts for three months of rent free, paying for utilities and insurance only. It's all an effort to help get business and creativity moving again.
Tough times for Tacoma mean a lot for vacancies. Too many vacancies. Some of the spaces in the theater district have been empty for years. Tacoma's Arts Administrator Amy McBride sees the down economy as an opportunity to help up-and-coming artists and entrepreneurs get exposure and help the city storefronts get back in business.
The spaces would house static art installations, working studios, community events and entrepreneurs who want to give small business a try.
Colliers International, who owns the building, is picking up the tab for the free rent.
Tacoma isn't the first city to try this. Portland, Chicago and Baltimore are already seeing modest improvements in occupancy rates.
More information at Tacoma Culture
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