Background
Studio Arts Boulder is building a second facility to expand the ceramics program and add new studio art forms.
Why expand?
We love the historic firestation. It is beautiful and charming. It is our heart and our home. There are few places in Boulder where people of all ages and walks of life come together to pursue shared interests. In fact, we have no intention of leaving the firestation and intend to continue to provide high-quality ceramics programs at this location! We're expanding because we need a second facility. Having two facilities will enable us to expand our ceramics program - add more students, with more space and storage, and a wider selection of classes.
While the historic building in the middle of University Hill has lots of character and intimacy, it also poses a few challenges. Over the years, staff has taken many steps to ensure the 3,200 sq.ft. facility runs as efficiently as possible, but the space has inherent limitations.
Every square inch of usable space is maxed out. With waitlists growing, enrollment in our adult classes often fills within minutes. We've added workshops, date & family nights, and other programs to engage more people, but we simply cannot meet the demand.
The historic building is not universally accessible. We cannot accommodate people with low mobility or other disabilities because we do not have a fully ADA-accessible facility. We would like to do more therapeutic art programs, but we need a more accessible building to do so. In addition, Boulder county is aging. Serving our growing population of older adults is critical as demographics shift. In order to truly serve all ages and abilities, we need a fully accessible facility.
There's no room for other art forms. Our mission is to cultivate the artist in each of us by inviting creative collaboration in the study, practice, and advancement of the studio arts. The "studio arts" are those art forms that require a significant investment in equipment, facilities, and safety precautions that are hard for most individuals to afford, such as ceramics, printmaking, woodworking, glass, metal, and fiber arts. A second facility with teaching studios in five artforms will enable us to offer more classes and programs in addition to ceramics.
Where to?
Studio Arts Boulder received a donation of land worth approximately $1.7 million within the new Diagonal Crossing development at the intersection of 47th Street and Independence Road (see map). The facility will be located at 3750 Canfield Street, Boulder, CO 80301.
Diagonal Crossing includes market-rate apartments, permanently affordable apartments & townhomes, a small retail bodega in the new facility for Meals on Wheels, and a child-care center (coming soon), as well as the custom-built facility for Studio Arts Boulder.
Our 0.71-acre lot is in a highly-visible location on the east side of the development, along the bustling Iris-Diagonal corridor (see diagram below). Within the neighborhood we will enjoy a central green space as well as a series of outdoor sculpture pads, which Studio Arts Boulder will manage and curate.
The Studio Arts facility at Diagonal Crossing will be significantly more accessible than our facility at the Pottery Lab. With dedicated parking, EV charging stations, bike path connectivity, and bus stops just a block away, our students, faculty, staff, and visitors will be able to chose the method of transit that best suits their needs.
While keeping the legacy Pottery Lab open, adding a second facility at Diagonal Crossing expands our geographic reach and allows us to serve more members of the community.
What's coming?
A custom-made facility dedicated to community studio art education.
We envision spacious teaching studios where students from the entire Boulder community can learn new skills and discover hidden talents. We envision an art gallery showcasing in-house artists alongside regional, national, and even international exhibits. We envision a gorgeous, artfully-designed building that also exemplifies the best in green building technology.
Classes, camps, and workshops will serve every age and ability from novice to advanced, including children, adults, seniors, as well as students with special needs, engaging diverse populations and perspectives.
Rotating gallery shows, exhibits, and special events will be open to the public, exposing new audiences to the studio arts and attracting new visitors to this showcase destination.
Offices, conference rooms, and outdoor event/work spaces will foster collaboration and interaction between artists, students, staff, visitors, and the wider community.
See the concept design for building HERE.
When will it open?
The building is under construction and expected to open in 2024.
See the latest news & updates about the project HERE.
How can I help?
Please make a donation today.
There’s still a long way to go in our capital campaign. Every dollar matters. Please consider making a donation HERE to help this building become a reality!