A new art space will soon be in Hillsborough at a prominent historical location.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners authorized the Eno River Mill Arts Project on Tuesday. The Orange County Arts Commission will rent space from Hedgehog Holdings, who manages the mill, and use the it as 13 move-in artist studio spaces. Artists would in turn rent the space from the county and use it as a creative, storage, and display area.
The goal of the partnership is to provide low-cost access to local artists while transforming the mill into an arts destination and economic asset for Hillsborough and the county.
Arts Commission Director Katie Murray spoke to the board about how the space should immediately help the county economically.
“It’s going to keep that rental money here locally,” she said. “Right now our artists who need studio space go outside of Orange County to get it with the exception of maybe less than half-dozen options. It’s going to provide more patrons for businesses, especially during receptions or openings.”
Fred Joiner, the poet laureate for the Town of Carrboro, voiced his support of the project to the board. He said a space like this helps a community build resilience and gives people an outlet not just for creativity but also for dealing with personal adversity.
“I wouldn’t be the artist I am today if I didn’t have these types of spaces provided for me. [My career] doesn’t happen without having these kinds of spaces to help me develop and grow as an artist.”
If it successfully rents the studio space, the Orange County Arts Commission plans to enact two additional phases of partnership with the Eno River Mill. The next steps would be creating a large exhibit area and a performance arts space within the mill while aligning with Hedgehog Holdings’ construction of apartments at the mill that could offer reduced rent for artists using the studio.
Frank Gailor, a managing member of Hedgehog Holdings, expressed his excitement for the project and evoked a phrase from the book Death and Life of Great American Cities.
“New ideas need old buildings,” said Gailor. “This is an old building that needs creative people. We’re excited with the opportunity presented to work with these delightful, enthusiastic people whose energy will help us compound our efforts.”
With the board’s unanimous approval on Tuesday, the Eno River Mill Arts Project will now move forward with the Arts Commission preparing to search for tenants.
Photo via Eno River Mill.
This is great, but I feel like OC has an abundance of support for visual arts and almost none for the performing arts. There are no indoor stage spaces that lend themselves to theatrical performance outside of our schools, and those rental costs and requirements make it cost prohibitive. Did you know that the Whitted building was originally designed to include a theater? Performance art is something that has power to build confidence and transform the quality of life for those with a myriad of disabilities as well as those with low socioeconomic status. I encourage everyone to be vocal in support of this initiative while highlighting the need for creative outlets in other areas. There is a growing community of performance artists in OC who would love to bring more of these opportunities to our kids, but we need help!
Great to hear, but how about adding a place for the theater arts as well? Orange Community Players, which has been around for nearly 20 years, has served hundreds of artists of all ages — actors, singers, dancers, instrumentalists — really well. But OCP needs a home and permanent, dependable, and always available rehearsal and performance space. Time to start talking about that.
Same answer as above. We have met with OCP and hope to include them in the future plans.
“transform the quality of life for those with a myriad of disabilities as well as those with low socioeconomic status”…. most artists don’t have money to rent fancy spaces like this. What exactly is the rent?
Cool picture of the mill area. What year is that from, approximately?
Performance space is in the plan as well. You’re right that there’s a big need in our community and we’re working to address it.