Around this time last year a former Goodyear Tire building in Charlotte’s Uptown was entering its final phase: as a creative space for local artists. That project has come to an end, but now its story lives on in another building needing a new breath of life.
Last summer three Charlotte artists (Amy Herman, Amy Bagwell, and Graham Carew) were on a mission. They wanted to provide a space for local artists to use and to pay them for their time.
Now almost a year later, they’re at it again with a different building.
"It’s not a building that’s in perfect condition, it’s gone through interior demolition, so it’s kind of been pulled back to a very raw state on the inside," said Amy Herman.
Under the new name Goodyear Arts they plan to house artists in a former nightclub/comedy club on 516 North College Street.
The rules of the game are slightly different. This time the residencies will be 2 months long and the stipends are now $1,500 which is 50% higher. And now there will be more opportunity for the public to see the work.
"One of the things we talked a lot with this space is how we can really accommodate the community even more than what was possible at Goodyear," said Herman.
There will be public gallery hours Wednesday through Saturday.
The building is owned by Levine Properties which will donate the space for the next 6 months. Crescent Communities which financially supported the original program will continue those efforts.
Unlike the Goodyear building, the fate of the property on North College Street is unknown—demolition is not certain. What is known is that 3 artists will be moving in July 1st.
