The former Doling Elementary School, 1423 W. Atlantic, will have new life breathed into it when it reopens as New Moon Studio Space. Doling opened in 1916 and closed in 2002 and for the most part has sat empty ever since.
City Council approved a conditional use permit for the former school to operate as a space for artists to create at its Feb. 22 meeting.
Husband and wife team Kate Baird, an artist and former art educator for the Springfield Art Museum, and Mike Stevens, executive director of Moxie Cinema, plan to purchase the building from Springfield Public Schools. Their vision is to offer secure, functional workspaces for artists and creative workers in a supportive community setting.
“A big thank you to Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council for approving our conditional use permit, and also to staff in the Planning & Development Department for guiding a couple of true novices through this process. The CUP is important because it allows this former elementary school to be used as a studio building. We look forward to being good neighbors in Woodland Heights!,” said the couple, in a Feb. 22 post on New Moon Studio Space’s Facebook page.
Baird said private and shared studio spaces in a range of sizes will be available.
“Many of the studio spaces are former classrooms with large windows and abundant natural light. Rents will likely range from $100 per month to $600 per month. There are also a variety of other spaces on offer, including offices and an all-purpose room,” she said.
She added that New Moon aims to meet the needs of a range of creative practices and attract mix of emerging, mid-career and established artists.
Amenities will include:
- 24-hour keypad access
- Wireless internet
- climate-controlled spaces
- off-street parking
- classroom and storage facilities.
The couple is soliciting feedback for the facility via a studio/workplace needs survey available at newmoonstudiospace.com.