Creative Space Needs Survey - Beaumont, TX

In early 2020, leaders from the Southeast Texas Arts Council (SETAC), the Downtown Beaumont Cultural Arts District (DBCAD) and the City of Beaumont, invited Artspace, a national nonprofit in the field of creative space development, to assess the potential for an affordable mixed-use, artist live/work facility in downtown Beaumont.

Between June and August of 2020, a series of (virtual) focus groups were held with civic leaders, public and private funders/financiers, individual artists/creatives/makers and arts and cultural organizations, including a meeting specifically for understanding the needs of artists identifying as Black, Indigenous and/or a Person of Color.

These meetings along with a virtual tour of potential sites and other research revealed strong interest in and opportunity for the proposed project concept in the Downtown Beaumont Cultural Arts District and set the stage for this next big step, a Creative Space Needs Survey.  Input will help us test the concept and determine if there is enough interest to warrant further investment and if so, what types and how many living and working spaces should be planned, what amenities to include, and what “affordable” really means to the region’s artists, makers, culture bearers and creatives.

If you are engaged in creative efforts and consider your work, product or practice to be a form of art, craft, cultural tradition, creative expression, or heritage preservation then we probably will too. Many makers and creatives don’t even think of themselves as artists, but all are members of the creative sector and a focus of this study. A member of the creative sector:

• Has a sincere commitment to their creative-based work;
• May make things that are artistic, creative or functional, or all of the above! (woodturners, milliners, potters, writers, leather workers, artisanal foods/craft beverages makers, painters, performers, photographers, jewelers, floral arrangers, stylists);
• May be engaged in any creative/artistic/cultural pursuit including visual/performing, culinary, literary, musical, administrative, museum, educational work or practice;
• May or may not make any income from their creative-based work (or may or may not aspire to);
• May or may not create or practice full time (or may or may not aspire to);
• Has or is developing a body of work or is actively training, practicing, and/or making;
• Comes from any and all walks of life.

This project is funded by the B.A. & E.W. Steinhagen Benevolent Trust through the Southeast Texas Arts Council.

The Downtown Beaumont Cultural Arts District (DBCAD) is driving the effort to advance affordable, creative space in Beaumont, and is the local lead on this project. Learn more about DBCAD.

The survey is developed and owned by Artspace Consulting.

If you would like to learn more about this project or to get involved, please contact DBCAD

Artspace is a national nonprofit developer and consultant with a mission to “create, foster and preserve affordable and sustainable space for artists, and arts organizations”. Artspace Consulting is a division of Artspace. This study is designed to inform any new creative space project(s) whether initiated by a local developer, property owner, arts group or by Artspace in partnership with local stakeholders.