Don't ignore pleas of arts community

4/23/07
Raising a city back to prominence and prestige requires more than just development. Luxury condos and tax-deferred units will bring some people in, but to make Bridgeport a destination again, the city needs to cultivate its local arts scene. In that vein, it’s important to reach an agreement with a group that uses a former West End factory as a gallery and work space.
The group uses the NEST Arts Factory on Hancock Avenue as a gathering place for artists, and also to stage performances and exhibitions. Developer Garfield Spencer wants to purchase the building for conversion into loft-style condominiums. While it’s not up to the city to tell any owner what his property should be used for — or to prevent any legal use of that property — the plea for artist space should not be ignored.
The city of late has a decidedly mixed record on this issue. The former Read’s building downtown has drawn artists from all around and can be considered an unqualified success. But a group of artists was asked recently to leave a building due to be sold on Connecticut Avenue in the East End, and the fate of the Black Rock Art Center remains unknown (as does that of the Black Rock Library). The city would do well to take lessons from its neighbors on valuing the arts.
Just down the road, New Haven has taken important steps to accommodate artists groups, allowing the use of old industrial buildings as a way to foster growth and creativity. A similar example in Bridgeport — with security that the space will continue to be available, which has been missing — would make a real difference.
The city should also take action, finally, to establish a municipal arts commission. It’s an idea that has floated around for some time, but has never quite taken hold. But it should get done, and time and funding should be set aside to build and maintain a community of artists.
In the grand plans of city leaders, downtown will blossom into a bustling street life of new apartments, restaurants, shops and night spots. But there’s more to a burgeoning civic lifestyle than million-dollar condos and luxury towers, and if the city wants its bright future to take hold, it would do well to start by sometimes reserving space in old factories for something other than loft apartments.