SPUR Studios opens second space in Pittsfield Twp

In a monument to visual artists, last weekend SPUR Studios opened a sister location to its successful Ypsilanti set of private workspaces for creatives. SPUR Studios - Number Two occupies the front of the building housing the Color Express print shop at 625 State Circle in Pittsfield Township.

The 1,500-square-foot space is currently leasing six studios ranging from 150-350 square feet apiece, with room to build out for a seventh. There is a one-year minimum lease requirement. Space constraints mean the new locale is for visual artists only, whereas the Ypsilanti location is split between artists and musicians, says James Marks, founder of SPUR Studios and custom screen printing venture VG Kids.

About 20 artists, mostly photographers and graphic designers, attended an open house held on February 12. FLY Children's Art Center will be moving its commissary in and there is interest in several other units, according to Marks.

While the current number of locations can still be counted on one hand, Marks would like to add more over time. "It's definitely on my mind to open something larger in Ann Arbor if this works. We've considered other locations in Michigan and ultimately other locations outside of Michigan. But...," he qualifies, "one step at a time."

"There's a new change of habits as the creative economy is becoming a larger piece of the overall economy, and different people are reacting to that in different ways," Marks feels. While there are membership situations where artists can rent space in an open room, as of yet there are no similar options, he says.  With this set-up, "you would come in, you would remodel it, you would make it your own. You could bring clients in there, but in an overall building that's made of like-minded people."

Source: James Marks, founder of SPUR Studios and VG Kids
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar