Block Art Studio to assist youth, entrepreneurs in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD — Block Art Studio, a Black-owned and operated art center that focuses on neighborhood youth and entrepreneurs, is coming to Springfield.
While the studio is not slated to open until April 2024, recent grants were awarded to assist in its establishment.
Block Art Studio Managing Director Jasper McCoy explained that the Love Art Collective Inc. received a $229,000 grant from MassDevelopment to help the organization buy and convert 583 State St. into Block Art Studio.
The award, announced on May 25, was part of a total of $713,893 in grants distributed to advance the rehabilitation of five properties in gateway cities across Massachusetts that will have significant economic impacts on commercial corridor revitalization goals.
These grants represented the first awards from the fiscal year 2023 round of MassDevelopment’s Transformative Development Initiative Equity Investment Program, with additional awards expected to follow.
McCoy noted that an additional $174,000 was awarded to the Love Art Collective through the Cultural Facilities Fund Grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and MassDevelopment.
The new facility — which will serve Mason Square and beyond — will feature gallery space, youth enrichment programs, career training, community events and crossover events with the Springfield Museums.
In addition to these offerings, McCoy shared that organizers are planning to have business suites for the community to use, along with a flex space for poetry, events and more. There will also be about eight to 10 spaces for artists to reserve and work in at any time.
Down the road, McCoy said the organization would like to expand their offerings and host festivals and farmers markets, to name a few ideas.
He went on to say that the Love Art Collective — a nonprofit art service organization — started in May 2021, as a way to help artists with creative professionalism, business development and youth and community enrichment. If someone does not have the tools to make it or has not been taught professionalism, the Love Art Collective assists with that, providing “bigger access to larger opportunities and proper management and development,” McCoy said.
The Love Art Collective produces art and cultural events in catering to the Greater Springfield area.
“The Block Art Studio development will be an expansion of the Love Art Collective’s mission, offering physical space to further creativity culture and community,” McCoy said.
The Springfield City Collective is a partner in the development of the Block Art Studio, McCoy shared.
The Love Art Collective hosts various events and art programming throughout the year. McCoy noted that they began art showcasing in 2022.