History
The Studios of Key West was founded as a non-profit cultural organization in 2006, with a mission to support the island's creative community, the development of artists and audiences in the Conch Republic, and new partnerships near and far. It is based on successful 20th century models for artist colonies, but aims to expand the approach and model for the 21st century artist community. The Studios of Key West now maintains a growing campus based at the historic Key West Armory building, located in the Old Town neighbourhood at Southard and White Streets, and offers a dynamic mix of community workshops, performing arts events, exhibitions, lectures, and island residencies for creative people from around the world. Founding executive director, Eric Holowacz, was installed in early 2007 and was responsible for developing and implementing a bold new strategic plan for the organization. The founding staff included Sharon McGauley, Arlo Haskell, Elena Devers, and Lauren McAloon.
The Armory building, originally built between 1900-1903 as the drill hall and armory for the Florida state militia, the Island City Rifles, is the only wood-frame government structure in the Keys. It underwent historic preservation efforts in 2006 and 2007, under the leadership of founding director Eric Holowacz, and now comprises a main hall exhibition and event space, twelve studio spaces for Key West artists and writers, a sculpture garden with rotating three dimensional and public art, and several properties that provide residencies for distinguished visiting artists. By offering free and regular creative opportunities, such as the monthly Walk on White open studio tours, weekly life drawing sessions, and a series of lectures and presentations by and about creative people, the Armory has become a destination for both residents and visitors.
Core programming has grown from a few workshops in 2007 to over 100 creative classes during the 2010-11 season. These have been delivered by notable American cultural figures, including watercolorists Frank Webb, Charles Reid, and Don Andrews, writers Rebecca Skloot, Roxana Barry Robinson, Robert Stone, and Crescent Dragonwagon, and mixed-media artists Valerie Goodwin, Thomas Mann, and Roberta Marks. A lecture series by and about creative people was inaugurated in February 2007 by Robert MacNeil, and has grown to include several dozen free public presentations each year. In 2008, free professional development sessions, touching on a variety of skills and issues for working creative people, were introduced for Keys artists.
Experimental and collaborative projects continue to develop, including the late summertime One Night Stand new theatre works initiative, the introduction of Key West's first Art-o-mat machine, a partnership with Southern Arts Federation, workshopping support for Joyce Stahl's imaginative Nutcracker Key West production, and an innovative partnership with local artists, schools, and children to create the Keys' first Leathers and Associates community-designed playground. The organisation also convened the 2007 Arts Speak sessions for Key West cultural leaders, in partnership with the Florida Keys Council of the Arts and Sculpture Key West.
TSKW is managed by a small professional staff and is governed by a board of dedicated Key West community leaders. The mission and vision continue to grow, with an increasing emphasis on partnership and collaboration, community interface and involvement, cross-cultural exchange, and wholesale support of the creative process. It works to build on the creative legacy of past and present Key West residents such as Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Elizabeth Bishop, James Merrill, Richard Wilbur, Judy Blume, Meg Cabot, Mario Sanchez, Henry La Cagnina and Annie Dillard. And it revels in the glorious recent history of the Conch Republic. The Studios of Key West proceeds from the traditional approach to the artist colony, established by the likes of Yaddo and MacDowell Colony, and expanded more recently by Anderson Ranch, Vermont Studio Center, and Atlantic Center for the Arts. Key West's version has advanced this progression, and established the artist community model for the 21st century.
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