Harness this opportunity: Arts occupation repurposed for community benefit?

The Colton School has been temporarily converted into a shared studio/educational space, by the Creative Alliance of New Orleans. From their website

_The Creative Alliance of New Orleans, (CANO), is a unique organization formed by the artists, businesses, and citizens of New Orleans to help develop and promote one of the city’s greatest assets – our living community of creative professionals that continue to call New Orleans home.

By recognizing and helping the creative sector thrive, CANO assists in the development of the New Orleans economy as well as improving the overall quality of life for its residents and worldwide visitors.The Studio at Colton, at 2300 St. Claude Avenue, just below the French Quarter, is an innovative new cultural and education venue presented by the Creative Alliance of New Orleans, a membership organization of artists, designers, performers and producers. The Studio, located in a 100,000 square foot vacant school, provides free work and exhibition space to over 100 artists, musicians and performers designers, architects, writers, film and video makers, dancers, photographers, Mardi Gras Indians and other bearers of the region’s cultural legacy, all of whom have agreed to create new, collaborative works and to work with New Orleans public high school students. The Studio, with 50 classrooms and an 1100 seat auditorium is free, and open to the public everyday from noon until 8pm. Many resident artists are often on hand to talk about their work, and performances take place throughout the building. The Studio is located on the Prospect.1 bus route 851 Magazine Street. A gift shop is open featuring resident and local art. For more information call 504.822.8182._

The driving energy behind the Creative Alliance of New Orleans, and The Studio at Colton, is the indefatigable community arts activist and media consultant Jeanne Nathan. Jeanne negotiated a deal with the RSD for a limited period, as the school is scheduled for redevelopment over time. Time will tell if those development plans proceed, but in the meantime CANO has harnessed the energies of a diverse group willing to be creative squatters.

We’re not sure how many schools-turned-arts-studios New Orleans needs, but here are a number of other schools that are waiting for their next best re-purpose. Calling all squatters….send us your ideas and plans (with pictures) for how to reuse these community assets.