Incubating Art: Building Ecosystems for Creative Entrepreneurship
Lowe Mill A&E is not one business, but a unique group of organizations that offer space for rent to artists. We are experts in creating ecosystems where creative entrepreneurship can begin.
A Revolving Door of Artists
If you walk through Lowe Mill A&E today, you will not see the same businesses as you would have last year. That is because Lowe Mill A&E itself is not one business, but a group of organizations that rents space to artists. Each of these businesses share the same goal of creating an ecosystem of creative entrepreneurship, and we are succeeding. The artists in our studios aren’t just making incredible art. They have such a pulse on the artists in the city, they are filling niche’s that push our art community to the next level. Stephanie Weaver Studio 270 just started a new business to provide quality art supplies that artists actually need. She is bringing her wealth of experience and educating us how to use them.
We are artists in the office as well. We know that art business isn’t always as straightforward as Stephanie Weaver makes in look. It doesn’t always fit into a corporate model. We understand the link between groundbreaking art and experimentation and that’s what we try to create - an environment where trial and error is possible. It looks like keeping rent as low as we can, saying yes to ideas no one has tried before, and giving the artists each other.
How Does this Support Fine Art?
In some senses, being an artist is about making impossible things happen. The right supplies for the piece are not always in the budget. The solution is often just out of reach, and this is where art community steps in. If an artist in the building needs something, with 150 studios, someone either has something or knows something that can help. That’s so valuable to artists.
Having artists of different disciplines and types seems to really spur on creativity too. We are hoping to create a situation where our tenants can create to the best of their ability. Artists come and go, but as long as the mission of the community stays the same, we are able to meet our goals.
What Art Incubation Gives to the City
A few years ago, we had the pleasure of sitting in on a luncheon where Mayor Battle was speaking. He spoke about Huntsville’s thriving job market. We are in the fortunate position of having more jobs to fill than people to fill them. His only frustration was that it was hard to get people to move here. His solution was to invest in the nightlife and entertainment in the city. What we are doing doesn’t just give artists a place to work, it gives our community a place where outlandish ideas can survive the initial stages of starting a business.
We are offering the city tourism and stimulating the economy - sure, but we are also helping Huntsville to be a beautiful place to live. Look at our former tenant, Pizzelle’s Confections. They started here at Lowe Mill A&E and were just voted the best chocolatier in the country by USA Today. Because we have an incubation chamber in Huntsville, we can claim them. They are just one example. So, we miss our tenants when they leave us, but we are happy to see them move on to their big opportunities.
The next time you are walking through Lowe Mill A&E, remember the mission behind everything here. We feel so fortunate to offer our expertise in creating ecosystems like this.