In early 2019 the Downtown Development Authority contacted Artspace, a national nonprofit leader in the field of affordable creative space development, about an artist housing reuse concept for the historic St. Joseph’s Sanitarium and Bath House Building. This initial conversation resulted in the City of Mount Clemens inviting Artspace to formally explore the feasibility of creating an affordable mixed-use live/work facility in its revitalizing downtown. The Anton Art Center joined the conversation and rounded out the local, collaborative stakeholder group.
A series of focus group meetings with local leaders, artists and community members were held in April 2019, setting the stage for this next big step, a Creative Space Needs Survey of creative people. Survey respondents’ input will help the stakeholder group and Artspace determine if there is enough interest to warrant further investment in the concept and, if so, what types and how many spaces should be planned, what amenities to include, and what “affordable” really means to local artists, creatives, and makers.