Welcome to Artspace Loveland

In September, Artspace Projects, Inc. announced the selection of the design team of Barker Rinker Seacat, B + Y Architecture, and K L & A Structural Engineers & Builders to begin designing the Artspace Loveland Project on the grounds of the historic Loveland Feed & Grain. 

This award-winning team, with deep experience with Loveland and its Civic Center and affordable housing projects, was the unanimous choice of the selection committee.  The committee found that, “they (BRS/B+Y/KLA) had the best combination of affordable housing experience/design expertise/and practical know how to get both the Feed &Grain and the housing component done. They inspired confidence.”

The team hit the ground running. By November, more than 100 people attended a public brainstorming session to share ideas with Artspace and the design team for the Artspace complex. The design team is pushing hard to complete schematic designs for the artists’ housing by March 1, 2012, in order to apply for housing tax credits which will be a critical element of the project financing.

Because of the CHFA deadlines, the initial focus of the design team has been on the new artists live/work housing. But the Feed & Grain building is also getting attention from the architects and engineers who are exploring how best (and affordably) the historic building itself can be used. To tie the buildings together, the outdoor campus at the Feed & Grain is being designed by JVA Consulting Engineers and Mundus Bishop Design, Landscape Designers.

While a full rehabilitation of the Feed & Grain may be years in the making, Artspace is committing funds in these early stages to ensure that basic life and safety measures can be implemented so that there can be more public uses of the building in the meantime.

In the coming months, Loveland is going to see some the west side of Downtown of come alive with a wonderful mix of arts and education projects. 

Watch for it!

Keep up to date about this project!
Join the Artspace in Loveland Facebook group.

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PROJECT BACKGROUND:

In April of 2009, Artspace Projects, Inc. conducted a Preliminary Feasibility Study, organized and financed by Novo Restoration and the Erion Foundation in collaboration with the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, the City of Loveland, and Mueller & Associates. During the Study, Artspace gathered information related to a project concept, artist market, site feasibility, financial feasibility, and local leadership that would support an Artspace project in Loveland.

From the Study, Artspace concluded that Loveland could be a strong candidate for a live/ work project with a general consensus in favor of an affordable mixed-use live/ work project in or near the downtown core. Artspace recommended an Arts Market Survey to determine both the size and the nature of the market.

SUMMARY OF SURVEY RESULTS

The June 2010 Survey of Artists’ Space Needs and Preferences and the Survey of Arts Organizations and Interested Businesses indicate demand for arts and cultural spaces in Loveland. Spaces of all types are needed, including:

• Residences for artists and their families, specially designed to provide both living and work space;
• Studio and work spaces for artists to rent on an ongoing or occasional basis;
• Permanent spaces for arts and cultural organizations and arts-friendly businesses; 
• Performing/production, exhibit, conference, and educational spaces for organizations to rent on short-term or occasional basis

Summarized Survey Results

• 410 individual artists completed the Survey of Artists’ Space Needs and Preferences
• 139 artists (34%) expressed interest in relocating to a multi-use arts facility
• 188 artists (46%) expressed interest in renting studio or work space
• 270 artists (66%) expressed interest in renting space on an occasional basis in downtown Loveland
• 114 separate organizations or businesses  completed the Survey of Arts Organizations and Interested Businesses
• 74 organizations (65%) indicated an interest in utilizing space in a new multi-use arts facility in Loveland 

For more information related to the Survey of Artists' Space Needs and Preferences and the Survey of Arts Organizations and Interested Businesses, please email Mike Scholl with the City of Loveland, or call him at 970-962-2607.

SITE SELECTION COMPLETE

Movie Night at the F&G

You just never know. Old buildings have nine lives if they are lucky. Such is the case with the F & G, as it is affectionately known in Loveland. This building has been oozing creativity into the community — from exhibits, performances, weddings and now movies, the Feed & Grain just keeps on giving back.

After reviewing nearly a dozen potential sites over the past year, the Loveland Feed & Grain site has been selected for Colorado’s first Artspace project.

The project will have two components. Component 1 will be 30-35 affordable live/work units for artists and their families, and will involve new construction on the lot adjacent to the Feed & Grain building. Component 2 will transform the Feed & Grain building itself into galleries, studios, classrooms, and commercial spaces for artists in order to create a more concentrated arts community in downtown Loveland.

Artspace is working to finalize site control as we prepare for next steps, including refinement of the project scope and budget, design team selection, and conversations with the Colorado Housing Finance  Agency.

If you would like to receive updates via email,  please use the email sign-up option below.

For additional information related to the Artspace Loveland project,
please email Leah Swartz or contact her at 612-465-0234.

For more information about Loveland, its artists, art industries,
and newly revitalized Downtown, please visit the following sites:   

City of Loveland 

Rialto Theater

The Loveland Feed and Grain

Downtown Loveland Association 

For more information about Artspace, please visit: www.Artspace.org.

Thank you!

- The Artspace Team

In the News

Loveland's Art in the Park Event:

"Loveland to host Annual Art in the Park Show" :: ReporterHerald.com :: August 11, 2011

"Loveland's world-class art weekend ready to roll" :: ReporterHerald.com :: August 11, 2011

"Art in the Park" :: Lincoln Gallery

Loveland Sculpture Invitational 20th Anniversay Show

28th Annual Sculpture in the Park

Project development news:
"Loveland Artspace project could have 30-plus residences in 2013" :: ReporterHerald.com :: November 10, 2011

"Artspace goes public: Design 'brainstorm' for Loveland Feed and Grain project set for Thursday" :: ReporterHerald.com :: November 5, 2011

Rundown mill in Loveland picked to be focus of arts-oriented, multiuse project :: DenverPost.com :: June 30, 2011

"Head of National Trust for Historic Preservation returns to Loveland and likes what she sees" :: ReporterHerald.com :: April 5, 2011

"Some public investment will ensure better return" :: ReporterHerald.com :: November 29, 2010

"Artspace scours city" :: ReporterHerald.com :: November 24, 2010

"Loveland needs to be the winner" :: Fresh Patina :: September 27, 2010

"Loveland Can Be Fiirst...Once again :: Fresh Patina :: July 21, 2010

 

"Uncertainty from tax measures puts Loveland development projects on hold" :: ReporterHerald.com :: September 26, 2010

"Space to Grow" :: 5280 :: December 2010 download PDF

"From Where I Stand" CEO Column  :: AWARE :: February 20, 2010 download PDF 

"Artspace eyes Loveland" :: AWARE  :: February, 2010

"Housing project closer to frution" :: ReporterHerald.com ::  September 22, 2010

"Feed and Grain may elevate arts" :: DenverPost.com :: April 8, 2009