HATCH, a Hamtramck arts collective, was deeded the city's former police station in 2008 to create a permanent home for the organization. The grassroots efforts have been awarded $29,000 in CDBG (Community Development Block Grants) funds, which will be used to replace the building's roof. Scott Collins, the organization's vice-president, says that, if all goes well, the building's gallery and studio space could be operational by December of this year.
Any surplus CDBG dollars will go towards electrical and plumbing repair, finish work, paint and light fixture installation. Private donations and volunteer time have progressed the building to where it stands now. "The last couple of months, we've had a work day every weekend," says Collins, who estimates that a half-dozen people show up each time from a pool of 20 to 30. "A lot of the volunteers are artists from the community, there is a lot of excitement growing in having a public art space available."
Although a December soft opening is the goal, it will take more time than that to achieve HATCH's overall vision of exhibition, studio and classroom space, a gift shop and a kiln, darkroom and printing press. "Excitement builds as things progress, and it starts to transform into a new space," says Collins. "The more time you spend in there, the more you can kind of see art on the walls and merchandise in the git shop."
Source: Scott Collins, HATCH
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
Enjoy this story?
Sign up for free solutions-based reporting in your inbox each week.