Featured Member Project

Featured Member

The ArtistLink website provides tools and information to artists, arts organizations, local governments, and real estate developers.

In greater Boston, artists have a unique ally in one of the toughest and most expensive real estate markets in the country. ArtistLink, an initiative that focuses on the advancement of an artist space agenda in Massachusetts, was created in 2003 as a means of addressing the need for space to perform, practice, and create. A broker of information and an advocate for artists' needs, ArtistLink works with real estate developers, arts organizations, municipalities, and of course, artists.

ArtistLink provides three primary services to its constituents. Jason Schupbach, director of the initiative, works with state and local governments to encourage artist-friendly policies, including arts district zonings and the sale of buildings for artist use. ArtistLink also delivers resources for developers, policymakers, and artists on two comprehensive websites: www.artistlink.org and www.artspacefinder.com. Finally, ArtistLink strives for the preservation and creation of permanent and affordable spaces where artists can create their work. Services include information and access to the artist market, assistance with real estate searches, connection to potential funding sources, and building collaborations with development officials.

ArtistLink was formed through the outstanding collaborative effort of nine organizations: Massachusetts Cultural Council, the New England Foundation for the Arts, The Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism and Special Events, and the Boston Foundation (all of which are members of Americans for the Arts), as well as the Boston Redevelopment Authority, LEF Foundation, Boston Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the Barr Foundation, and Leveraging Investments in Creativity.