A brief history of
The Artist Co-op
I founded
The Artist Co-op
because I was frustrated as an artist.
How it started…
I was frustrated as an actor looking for a space that validated the work I was creating with my fellow multi-hyphenated artists (actors - writers - directors - designers - choreographers..).
My collaborators and I were running around to the outer boroughs to find the most affordable rehearsal rooms but these spaces were riddled with problems, like no heat in the winter or piles of hair all over the floor. After rehearsal, we would head to our favorite coffee shops to host our production meetings and quickly get the “side eye” from the barista, subtly saying without words that we had overstayed our visit.
One day I went to visit my friend’s WeWork office, and that is when I had a lightbulb moment. Why isn’t there a coworking space for artists? We are the most collaborative industry, but there’s no space dedicated to our craft… So in 2015, I set out to create one.
Next came hard work and perseverance …
Many events happened along the way, but I’ll summarize it for you because we all have short attention spans these days. I started researching all the different coworking and rehearsal spaces, exchanged loads of business cards, developed a pitch deck and financial projections, went on tons of coffee dates, and pounded the pavement.
The magic of expanding my network led me to an introduction to a landlord who was willing to take a risk on a then 26 year old lady who had a big dream of making a creative space for artists in New York City. I was adamant about TAC’s first space being centrally located and accessible by various trains.
Thankfully this landlord said, “Hey, I’ve got a space on 52nd Street.” I said, “Great! Let’s go check it out!” The next thing you know, I’m calling my business mentor, Ron Black to come down to NYC immediately to see the space. We negotiated the terms and I signed a license agreement. The next steps were fundraising for the start up capital and building out the empty space.
Then the build out..
We got the space on 52nd Street on March 1st, 2017, and just two months later, we opened to the public on May 15, 2017. During the that time, we raised over $25,000 through a successful crowdfunding campaign, built out 2 soundproof rehearsal rooms and a versatile coworking, furnished the space with donated furniture, created an online membership portal and room booking software to serve our artist community.
At TAC’s opening, we launched with 15 founding members and as of March 2020, we had over 175 members. Throughout the three years, we hosted over 200 events in the space, from our own programming like panels, performances, concerts, workshops, etc to the artist community hosting their own fundraising galas, readings, and so much more! TAC was growing its memberships so quickly, that in 2018 we expanded our operations to another floor and offered dedicated desks to those who needed a more private workspace.
2,000 sq/ft rectangle
Two rehearsal rooms being built
Our current status…
When the pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, we quickly moved our membership and programming online. We are currently navigating how we can continue to serve the artist community and meet their needs in this new climate.
If you’re interested in learning more about out The Virtual Membership, check out the details on TAC’s website.
Another way to stay connected to the TAC Community is via our weekly newsletter, sign up here.
“The way we gather matters. Gatherings consume our days and help determine the kind of world we live in, in both our intimate and public realms.”
~ Priya Parker, writer of “The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters”
What’s next…
Still curious? Read up on the articles, interviews, and podcasts that further detail The Artist Co-op’s journey.
Are you ready to flex your entrepreneurial muscles? I’d love to help you launch you creative idea.