Summary
Established in 2002, the Smartshop Metal Arts School, Gallery & Sculpture Garden was the first Kalamazoo grant recipient of Governor Jennifer Granholm’s Cool Cities Initiative to support the presence of the creative class in Michigan’s cities. Received in 2004, the $100,000 award was used to renovate a building owned by the city’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority so that Smartshop could relocate to a stable site where it could grow its business and participate in the revitalization of the riverfront area just northeast of Kalamazoo’s downtown. The following details the project’s purpose, methodology, and results.
Project Overview
- Total Investment $650,000
- 8,000 Square Feet Renovated
- New Sculpture Garden
- Space for 460 Students Annually
- Six Jobs Created/Retained
- Art Hop Visits Increased to 3,000 Annually
The Smartshop Story
Smartshop is both a for-profit metal arts studio and gallery and a nonprofit metal arts school located near downtown Kalamazoo. Established by sculptor Holly Fisher, Smartshop is a comprehensive arts facility that fosters the creative spirits of students and enriches local cultural wealth.
Soon after its founding, Smartshop became an important destination in the Northside neighborhood, with hundreds of people attending classes and workshops and the monthly Art Hops sponsored by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Attendees said, “I never had a reason to come here before.”
In order to stabilize Smartshop’s situation so that it could continue its educational and cultural impact, in 2004 the City of Kalamazoo applied for a grant from Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s “Cool Cities Initiative” program. The project involved the renovation of a blighted industrial building so Smartshop could have a permanent home where it could concentrate on its core businesses of art education and artist development.
The new location is in riverfront area of the Northside neighborhood, just northeast of downtown. Here Smartshop can serve as a catalyst in the city’s efforts to transform the waterfront from its out-dated industrial uses to a place where the river is an amenity which is enjoyed by the community and which attracts quality investment and development.
Acquisition of the building was underwritten by the city’s Brownfield Redevelopment program. As part of the purchase agreement, Smartshop will provide sculptures for the city’s nearby riverfront trail. In addition to private financing and the $100,000 Cool Cities grant from the state, the project also received community-wide support from several local organizations, volunteers, and donors for a total investment of $650,000.
Using these multiple financing sources, Smartshop dramatically improved the building. The 8,000 square foot facility boasts a new gallery which sells an impressive collection of original works by regional artists. An expansive workspace with a wide variety of modern metal working equipment offers opportunities to weld, forge and cast metal in the name of art. The adjacent sculpture garden connects the building with the neighborhood and showcases an assortment of distinctive pieces.
The renovation project has enabled Smartshop to have an ongoing impact on the community. The school offers classes and workshops which can accommodate up to 460 students each year. There have been two international artists in residence. Studio space is available to local artists, providing them with a chance to gain experience and recognition. Six jobs were created or retained as a result of the project.
Today, the inspiring Smartshop continues to enhance the City’s creative and economic development, adding to the cluster of appealing destinations in the north side and making Kalamazoo a way “cool” place to be.
