In 2017, the City of Bellevue invited national nonprofit Artspace to assess the potential for an affordable mixed-use, artist live/work facility. A series of focus groups and community conversations took place revealing support, need and opportunity for new space to be built. In 2020 the City conducted a BelRed Arts District planning survey and local input prioritized BelRed as a place for “inclusive, affordable and accessible space” where creative people and other communities can come together. Perfect alignment between the vision for the district and a new affordable arts facility.
Fast forward to today. New developments are emerging in BelRed, Sound Transit’s light rail extension is rapidly moving forward, and the City has its 5-year, BelRed Arts District Implementation Plan ready to go. Now is the time to act on planning for and creating new space that will preserve long-term affordability for the creative sector in a neighborhood known for its artists, creative businesses, and arts organizations.
This survey is the next step. By receiving broad input from a diversity of artists, creatives, and makers, the team will learn whether there is sufficient demand to create space and if so what types and how much, what amenities to include, and what “affordable” really means to the area’s artists, creatives, and makers.