The Studios of Key West is Growing, Planning, and Inviting Creative Ideas and New Partnerships from its base in the Historic Armory Building
The Studios of Key West has come a long way since establishing itself in June 2006 as the island's newest non-profit cultural organization. Thanks to strong board leadership and new grants and contributions, the past year has seen the major redevelopment of the Historic Armory building, the opening of six subsidized artist studios on the first floor, the launch of a free humanities lecture series, and the completion of the first workshop season. The doors will be open on Thursday 21 June for the next Walk on White gallery event, and the public is invited to visit the renovated creative spaces in the Armory at 600 White Street.
"It's been a whirlwind creative development," said board member John Martini, who is also a prominent Key West sculptor. "We all have great ambitions for the small but growing organization, and board and staff hope to make a positive impact on the culture and quality of life in Key West."
The Studios of Key West has been in development for several years, based on a dynamic artist community model and a mission to support local artists, audiences, and cultural experiences. The first year has seen the transformation of the Historic Armory building into a multi-use campus for diverse cultural programming.
Activities have included free humanities lectures, a season of creative courses taught by notable American artists, weekly life drawing session open to the general public, and the regular exhibition of new painting, sculpture, and mixed-media works. The next phase, opening in August, involves the addition of six additional creative studio spaces in the Historic Key West Armory.
"Following that, we'll be developing all sorts of programming for the local community, including an expanded workshop and lecture series for 2008," said new executive director Eric Holowacz, who took the helm in May. "I want The Studios of Key West to keep inviting people to get creative in new ways, and I want us to forge mutual partnerships with other weavers of the Key West cultural fabric."
Holowacz, who relocated to Key West from Wellington, New Zealand, has already found inspiration in the work of local artists and organizations. He cites Sculpture Key West, the Literary Seminar, Fantasy Fest, San Carlos Institute, the Keys Arts Council, and our local museums, galleries, theaters, and film society as signs of a thriving cultural scene.
"Any community, whether in a far corner of the South Pacific or the end of the American highway, will depend on the arts and creativity to express its culture. That’s how we tell others who we are, and how we understand ourselves,” said Holowacz.
The Studios of Key West will continue to grow, change, and invite new forms of cultural expression and individual creative development.
“That’s really the crux of our mission,” remarked Holowacz, “and our board and staff are dedicated to making new and exciting possibilities happen. At the end of the day, we hope our island can call it a bit of a renaissance."
The Studios of Key West staff keeps an open door, and always welcomes new ideas, cultural projects, and creative possibilities. They can be reached at the The Studios of Key West offices in the Historic Armory, 600 White Street, or at 296-0458 or director@tskw.org.
