Of late, Easthampton, in Western Massachusetts, has become more arts and artist-centric, perhaps due to the handful of mill buildings housing artist workspaces and creative small businesses. Some also say it’s due to overflow from artsy Northampton, about 15 minutes north. It’s also because it’s still considered “affordable.”
For four-plus decades, the mill at One Cottage Street (c. 1859) has housed over eighty affordable artist workspaces as Cottage Street Studios, filled with creatives of all sorts including bookbinders (did you know neighboring Holyoke is “Paper City?”), painters, photographers, print-makers, graphic designers, woodworking shops/school, sculptors, furniture designers/ makers, fine lighting, stained glass, custom wedding gowns, mixed media, martial arts and other disciplines, over five floors. It was the first mill to be converted for creatives in Western Mass.
EVEN EASTHAMPTON, MASS. IS AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT
Many have called Cottage Street Studios their creative home for over 35 years, including Daniel Kelm, who started his handmade bookbinding business, The Wide Awake Garage. He invented “wire edge binding,” in the mid-1980s to explore the book as articulated sculpture and teaches small groups and individuals.
When he reached out to me at #ARTSTAYSHERE in April to share that Cottage Street Studios rents would be increased 25 to 100% all at once, my response was to face-in-palm.
“Not as far as Easthampton!” I exclaimed, aghast.
Of course, we’re well aware of the displacement of artists all over Greater Boston, with its burst of development and increased density — but we thought Western Massachusetts, the state’s South Coast and Merrimack Valley were still “safe.” And thus, I was reminded of what we already know: IF ARTISTS DON’T OWN IT, IT’S AT RISK OF DISPLACEMENT. This means some rents will more than double, making studios unaffordable, ultimately causing displacement. What’s worse is that their landlord, the nonprofit human services agency Riverside Industries, blames the artists for the budgetary shortfall. The artists, who have taught workshops to Riverside clients and donated original artwork to Riverside’s fundraisers, are gut-punched and heartbroken. “We felt like we were symbiotic and reciprocal for decades, under one roof,” Kelm explained. “Riverside’s offices and clients are in the Cottage Street building with the artists.”