Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts

Artist live and work space

Grand Opening of Artists Lofts 4-30-08 In February 2008, the first of 37 professional visual and performing artists began moving into the now completed Sailboat Bend Artists Lofts.  Artspace Projects, Inc., a Minneapolis-based not-for-profit real estate developer for the arts, contracted with Broward County for the development of these affordable, artist live/work spaces.

Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts Demographics click images below to enlarge
Artists Websites Artist Directory:  www.sailboatbendartists.com, Make friends:  www.myspace.com/sailboatbend

West Side School
The West Side School site has two components: the adaptive re-use of the historic West Side School into a new home for the Broward County Historical Commission and cultural workshop space/community meeting space; and a newly constructed building adjacent to the West Side School consists of 37 artist live/work units. This joint venture has created an environment where artists will live and work alongside each other in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale as part of an innovative artistic and cultural community that will add to an already flourishing, vibrant neighborhood.

Artspace Projects has created similar artist communities in Connecticut, Chicago, Minnesota and Maryland. The Fort Lauderdale location is the first of its kind in Florida. “The artists now have the opportunity to live and work in affordable one-, two- or three-bedroom residences, ranging from 500 to more than 1000 square feet,” says Steven Glassman, arts education and community development specialist, Broward Cultural Division.  Edited from Cultural Quarterly Article by Helene Foster.
Click here to read full article (with images) in Cultural Quarterly
 

Project
After almost ten years of work, we are excited this project has become a reality for the arts community, its patrons and supporters throughout Broward County. It's a win, win, win: a historical restoration, an arts project with new housing, and a new home for the Historical Commission in a historic neighborhood.


Each shovel was designed by a local Broward County artist. 
 

A special thanks to the following artists for their diggin’ art:
Jose Luis Amador, Jr., Terrie Ford, Grace Kewl, Liora, Lisa Lopez, Tin Ly, Beth Ravitz, Christina Roldan, Monique Shaw, Pietro Tondini, Pam Wilson.