Art Incubator

The catalyst project is rehab of an historic building into Studio 1219, an art incubator for artists. The neighborhood is a vibrant, traditional downtown neighborhood offering diverse arts and culture in the heart of this historic city.

The building now known as Studio 1219 (aka PH Arts Incubator Co.) was purchased as a joint venture of the Port Huron Downtown Development Authority and the Community Foundation of St. Clair County in 2004, when the Community Foundation of St. Clair County received a catalyst grant from the Cool Cities Program. This grant was used as seed money to support the renovations to the building, which had been used as a furniture store since 1882. State funds were leveraged with additional funding by the James C. Acheson Foundation to complete renovations. Studio 1219 opened its doors to the public in October of 2005.

Over 100 local artists display and sell artwork in Studio 1219’s galleries, rotating artwork every month, while highlighting a solo artist in the Van Gogh gallery every six weeks. A wide range of workshops and classes are offered year-round through our education department. There are classes and workshops for children and adults as well as periodic offerings for the entire family. Studio 1219 also offers Birthday Party and Girls Night Out packages as well as special-event rental opportunities. The Citizen’s First Pottery Studio is fully equipped with two electric kilns, one gas kiln, nine throwing wheels and other state-of-the-art equipment. Classes are offered for all ages, and co-op memberships are available for any skill level.

Charged with nurturing artists and making the arts accessible to the community, Studio 1219 is poised to be the impetus for connecting arts and culture with economic growth in the Blue Water Area. Studio 1219 provides a physical link between the thumb region's growing community of artists and the businesses of downtown Port Huron.

Highlights:

• Studio 1219 is in process to become a 501(c)(3) by January 2010.
• The Studio 1219 catalyst project fit nicely into the Revitalization Master Plan of the city, and in particular the south side of the downtown area. Also included in the plan is a $20 million YMCA; retro diner; pizzeria; waterfront development; and two blocks of new housing with community gardens and green spaces. 
• The catalyst grant has been leveraged into a $500,000 capital operating budget and $175,000 x 4 years.
• Great project! Always something going on with Studio 1219. It has one full-time and two part-time workers and volunteers. The average tenant lives there 2–3 years. 
• Studio 1219 Educational Director reported that they started the Art Incubator in 2005 and grow arts related business for the Blue Water Community, help artists get into the economy and educate in the arts
  • Hugely successful in St. Clair County
  • Two artist co-ops in the building - The Studio 1219 Artist Network and CF Pottery Studio Co-op
  • Only fine arts galleries in the Thumb Region
  • Gift gallery
  • Two beautiful solo galleries for individuals and groups to host art shows
  • Have had many incubated businesses successfully start and graduate from the building and currently have three tenants
  • Oftbeat Percussion, the Blue Water Musicians Network, and St. Clair County Community College have a working studio for professors, students, and alumni
  • Education Department offers:  workshops, classes, after school enrichment, host Professional Development Day for Port Huron Area Schools Arts & Music Teachers
  • Contracted with Community Mental Health and the ARC of St. Clair County to offer art and pottery classes
  • School districts provide a solo student show during the year
  • Just finished hosting 3rd Annual FREE Art Education Festival and juried Fine Arts & Craft Fair called Fire & Ice on the Water
    • Artist In Action (artists from all over, including Canada demonstrating their art medium)
    • Children's and adult's hands-on activities such as air brush, liquid watercolor on Yupo, liquid pencil still life, etc.
    • Theatre in Arts Tent where patrons learned to do stage make-up such as wounds and burns, mask making with plaster, costuming from the 1860's & 1960's
    • Emerging Artist area for new artist of all ages to display, sell, and demonstrate their arts
    • Children's collectors tent for 18 & under to shop for original art at discounted prices
    • Partnered with St. Clair County Library System and Port Huron Museum
  • Art of Being a Woman month long event in October
    • Fund started at the Community Foundation to help Hospital Foundations with underinsured breast cancer patients
    • Community members decorate bras that are displayed in gallery and around town, voted, modeled by Firemen at an auction with proceeds going to the fund mentioned above
• Port Huron reported in 2005:
  • We have received various articles in the newspaper that continue to track the status of our Cool Cities Initiative.
  • The advisory group for the project has since established a nonprofit called the Creative Coalition, Inc., DBA Port Huron Artist Network (PHAN). They oversee the art incubator project and spearhead the vision for its future. They continue to have art shows and events in other vacant storefronts in the neighborhood until the art incubator building is ready for occupancy.
  • The Community Renaissance Program Partners have continued to award home improvement grants, and have completely renovated many homes from renter-occupied to owner-occupied. They have demolished the most blighted properties, which are being converted into green space. An artist housing project is in the startup phase, during which a block of houses are being renovated by the Economic Opportunity Committee (EOC) to suit the needs of artists, including living and studio space for the artist and his or her family. Financial assistance and grants are available to help these families acquire a home if needed.
  • $2 million of local public investment has occurred in the neighborhood. 
  • $300,000 of private investment also has occurred in the neighborhood.
  • Property values have risen as the Community Renaissance Program’s investments are becoming more apparent and more homes are being turned into single-family owner-occupied versus multi-unit renter-occupied. The neighborhood’s appeal is gaining value due to the home improvements and added greenspace.
  • We have had great success in the collaborative efforts of the Community Renaissance Program Partners, which include local banks, the Acheson Foundation, the Community Foundation of St. Clair County, the Neighborhood Housing Corporation, City of Port Huron, Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA), EOC, and many other small businesses. These partners make a constant effort to put forth the mission of enhancing the quality of life in this neighborhood via housing, education, economic development, and family needs.
  • Our local community, especially the Community Renaissance Program Partners, have forged a strong alliance and have made great strides in revitalizing the southside of Port Huron. It is vital that the state continues to give support to our many projects in hand. The greatest challenge that we face is the weak economy. Many of our area's "creative class" are still leaving due to job shortages. The award designation gives value to our efforts, and support from the state level solidifies our continued efforts and investments.
• Port Huron reported in 2006:
  • Six new business opened.
  • Eight new homes were built in 2005. This was the first time in 30 years that permits were pulled to build new homes in this area.
  • This designation has helped to create a greater pride and hope for our community, which was rejuvenated again after being given the “Coolest of Cool Cities” award in 2006. We have seen an increased interest and awareness from within our local community regarding Studio 1219, Desmond Landing, and Community Renaissance Program Area redevelopments. This designation has helped Port Huron get recognized throughout the rest of the state as well. Many outside developers have contacted Port Huron about possibly building various point-of-interest sites such as hotels, indoor water parks, casinos, residential high-rises, etc. Our 2006 community parade theme was fashioned from our “Cool Cities” designation.
  • “Because of the Cool Cities Neighborhood Award Designation, Port Huron has generated public awareness and interest for the unique community it represents. Port Huron was one of only ten cities in 2005 to receive the All America City Designation, due in part to the Cool Cities Designation in 2004. Before the Cool Cities Initiative, Port Huron may have only been considered a hidden treasure to locals and lucky visitors. Now, Port Huron is making a name for itself. Studio 1219, the Cool Citie pilot project, is the largest public art incubator in the region, bridging the gap for the arts in our community. The Community Renaissance Program Area has spurred over $1.5 million in public and private investment, reaping benefits for the neighborhood too vast to measure at this time. Desmond Landing, a multimillion-dollar redevelopment led by Acheson Ventures, is working to make the 1.5-mile waterfront accessible and usable for the public again, after 20+ years as an industrial wasteland. The main components of Port Huron’s “Cool Cities, Neighborhood in Progress,” namely Studio 1219, Desmond Landing, and the Community Renaissance Program Area, are located within a two-mile radius, crafting a neighborhood for families to live, work and play.”