General Operation

• Most of our studio is treated as communal space with tools, equipment, and furniture that we all share. We then just have smaller areas designated for an individual artist's personal use.

• We have a few different artist statuses depending on roles, responsibilities, and arrangement with the studio.  Two key ones to be aware of are:

  • Resident Artists which are the core team of individuals and artists that are striving to support themselves and the growth of 20 Ton Studios long term through art.  Ultimately these are the individuals that have a vote in the management related aspects of the studio.

  • Visiting Artists which make up most other members that join 20 Ton through which we have had a broad spectrum of people work in the space.

Process For New Artists to Join

• We have somewhat of a process for people interested in joining (even if temporarily) that we have tried to formalize but it varies a little based on what each person is looking for.  Generally, those that are interested in the studio are:

  • Step 1. Asked to provide some initial information about themselves, their work, and what they are looking for in a studio.  We use the information provided to evaluate if we think the studio currently has the space, tools, and equipment to accommodate them and the type of work they are looking to create.

  • Step 2. Given a tour.

  • Step 3. Go through an interview process of sorts (both so that we can meet them and they us).

  • Step 4. Voted on as a collective by the current Resident Artists.

Financial Operations

• Financially we operate differently from most art collectives and don’t simply rent space out to artists.  Instead, our members contribute a portion of sales from work created at the studio to go towards operating expenses.  For new artists joining that would typically be 15%.

Expectations of Studio Members

• As a collective, it is expected that members are willing to periodically contribute to the studio in some meaningful way beyond focusing solely on their own art endeavors.

  • We try to have people contribute where they are most comfortable or skilled. As we continue to grow, we are looking at ways to formalize this more so new members have a better idea of what is expected of them.

  • At the most basic this would be simply helping with studio chores to maintain the space, but it can go beyond that to things such as participating in events, space improvements, helping with social media or sharing knowledge and techniques with fellow studio members.

Hours of Operation / Visitors / Selling Work

• We currently operate primarily as a working studio.  By that we mean, we have first been focused on providing the space and tools for artists to create their work.

  • Studio members have 24 / 7 access.

  • Studio members are welcome/encouraged to bring in guests and clients, have art shows in house, sell their work directly from the studio, and participate in the occasional larger studio events that we have hosted together as a studio.  However, they should not expect to have a steady stream of people coming through on a regular basis and seeing their art simply because they work in the studio.

  • Outside of a few events we have had at the studio, we do not currently keep any sort of regular business hours like an art gallery would for the public.  We do hope to one day grow to the point that we seriously consider it, but we are not yet to that point.

  • While we as a collective try and help promote each other when we can, it currently is up to each artist to ultimately make the connections through which to sell their work.

Studio Climate

• Our building has no air conditioning in the summer, and we only heat it to 45 degrees in the winter.

• The shoulder seasons tend to be the most pleasant in the studio, otherwise plan on having to stay well hydrated in the summer and wear plenty of layers and wool socks in the winter.

• We ask that you truly consider this since we often get the impression people think we are joking when we tell them ‘It is hot in the summer and cold in the winter’.  We are not.  We mean that literally as the temperature inside the studio is far from what many people find comfortable working in for a good portion of the year. 

• While we have some 2D work done in the studio, our space is not always the most conducive for it.

  • Generally, only done by some of the heartier individuals as again, no AC to be had in summer and only heat the building to 45 in the dead of winter.

  • The studio is one large open space which may mean listening to table saws, grinders, sanders, and other tools which create lots of noise while other artists are working.

Final Take Away

• Ultimately, we are striving to create an art collective in the truest form.  We continue to explore what that means and refine our vision as we grow but at the most basic it will include an expectation of some level of professionalism, communication, working with others and a willingness to help around the studio.

• Lastly and this is important, if you are still interested after reading the above and want to proceed to the ‘Truly Interested Prospective Artist Form’ then navigate to Hercules (Our Guard Dog In Residence) Artist Page, find and click on the picture of Hercules at the anvil and enter the password ‘Hercules’.  The questions are all the same. This is just a little test to see how many people truly read this information before contacting us.  Or are the questions the same? Hmmm