735 Square Foot Artist Co-op Opens in Old Town Lansing

Fifteen artists have pooled their art and their money to open and run the Artisan’s Circle, an artists' co-op in Old Town Lansing.

The group bought a 735 square foot building on Turner Street and turned it into the Artisans Circle. Each co-op member helps pay for rent and other operating fees.

Artisan’s Circle member Meg Breiter says the co-op gives artists more freedom than a traditional gallery, which sticks to theme- or medium-based collections. The Artisan’s Circle supports all different types of local artwork, including painting, leather and wool crafts, horse- hair pottery and ceramics.

“We’re able to do more than one thing, which is different than a regular gallery, where you can only do one thing,” she says.

Artisan Circle members encourage the public to interact with the artists by asking them questions while they’re creating their pieces.

Source: Jamie Schriner-Hooper, Old Town Commercial Association

Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here. 

All Photographs © Dave Trumpie