TASI assistant director Marilyn Tennisen arranges 3D pieces in The Art Studio’s sales gallery which has been recently renovated. Visitors to the Open Meeting, Sept. 12, will be able to hear about more about TASI’s strategic plans. ISSUE photo by Andy Coughlan
TASI to host open meeting Sept. 12
The Art Studio, Inc. begins its 36th season with a renewed sense of vigor and determination to fulfill a vision that began in November 1983 — to bring artists and the community together in making art and culture in Southeast Texas.
In recognition of this, and to further its mission, The Studio will host an Open Meeting mixer for the public to hear and see the “State of The Studio,” Sept. 12, beginning at 7 p.m.
The informal mixer will feature a short report on the past year’s Hurricane Harvey repairs and the tremendous growth The Studio is experiencing with adult and kid’s classes, infrastructure remodeling, and short and long-term plans for the organization. Additionally, the current Tenants Show will provide the backdrop for the social with food and drink, while tenants and board members host tours and conversations about future endeavors for those interested.
“We’ve had the honor of serving this community for 36 years and we want to continue to encourage that trust and acceptance to our stakeholders,” Greg Busceme, executive director and founder, said. “We have a massive level of enthusiasm and activity going on at The Studio and we want everyone to know we welcome their participation and support.”
Director Greg Busceme cleans up the Art Studio’s new addition. ISSUE photo by Andy Coughlan
The Studio has renovated significant portions of the interior of the 720 Franklin building, and also acquired an adjacent property and building.
Remodeling includes updated bathrooms, classroom spaces, storage areas, offices and the darkroom. Also added was a chair lift, donated by Rob Clark, to assist all patrons to access the facility easier and safer.
“We want people come to see what we’ve done in the last year,” Joe Winston, board president, said. “We’ve bounced back stronger than ever, and we’ve made some great improvements in our programs and our building.”
Winston said the meeting is a chance for community stakeholders to share fresh ideas with The Studio so it can continue to be the organization for fostering diverse, young and artistic talent in the area.
Busceme and Winston both say the most encouraging aspect of support has come from people that first came to The Studio as children are now returning years later with their own children.
“I always refer to participations as the ‘Tinkerbell Theory’ — if people don’t believe in something, it doesn’t exist,” Busceme said. “People have believed in us for 35 years and we want to continue that for as long as we can. Our goal now is to continue that with ideas that will carry us on for the next 35 years.”
Projects The Studio is now working on include expanding the number of classrooms and classroom spaces, and the creation of a multipurpose center for instruction and performances.
“One of our most important goals is to meet the needs for classroom instruction and performance spaces,” Winston said. “Our class sizes and offerings are growing each year and we have the demand for more space. The summer ARTSkool is at capacity every year and we constantly have people asking for class offerings.”
Some additional areas requiring repair include replacing all the windows upstairs and in the administrative area. TASI was among 36 non-profits that received grant funds for Hurricane Harvey repairs from the Foundation for Southeast Texas and Rebuild Texas. The Studio received $7,400 for window replacements from the grant.
The operations of The Studio have undergone some changes too, Marilyn Tennisen, assistant director said.
“We’ve also upgraded our Wi-Fi network and computers and strengthen our financial reporting and transparency,” she said. “We’ve amended our by-laws, acquired board insurance and added additional safety features like better parking lot and outdoor lighting and added some murals.”
Director Greg Busceme explains how the existing clay space will be turned into a performance space.The clay area will be moved to an extension to be built as part of TASI’s strategic plan. Visitors to the open house Sept. 12 will hear more about the plans. ISSUE photo by Andy Coughlan
The long-term goals of TASI demonstrate the vision the organization has for the future. Its mission is not to simply exist as a place to go, but to be a collaborative space for working artists.
“The Studio is unique in its mission because we are the only non-affiliated, independent arts organization in the area, “Busceme said. “And our strength has been our members and our outreach. We’ve never strayed from our original mission — ‘art, made fresh daily’ — and create something special in our community.”
The Studio has always been a heartbeat and incubator for cultural activities in Beaumont, Winston said, and an emphasis to continue to encourage that spirit is a theme for the group this year as the community continues to recover from Harvey.
“Come, celebrate The Studio, we never been stronger,” he said. “We’re reinvigorated. Our volunteers are engaged. We want this season to be a homecoming to our legacy of experiences at The Studio.
“Art is something that touches our lives. It can come from the smallest possible encounter. TASI is the place in the community for that to happen. It is a reinvestment in the community for the next generations.”
The Open Meeting will begin at 7 p.m. with a short report of the status of the organization and will be followed by a social mixer with adult beverages, hors d’oevres and facility tours with board members and tenants.
Stephan Malick, ISSUE staff writer