Residency requirements unveiled for Artist Lofts in Michigan City

Common questions in information sessions for other Artspace projects involve income levels and what to bring to the selection interview. She advises bringing samples of artwork. However, the application process comes first.

People may turn in what she called a "pre-application" through its website as early as Nov. 16. The property manager, Hayes-Gibson International, will then see if the applicant appears to qualify under the income requirements and, if the candidate does, send a full application.

All but one of Artspace's 39 projects, including the one in Michigan City, use low-income tax credits, White said. Single-person applicants must make less than $24,960 per year, whereas households of four people must have an income of less than $35,380 per year.

The U.S. government changes these amounts every year, so the exact number may change by the time the Michigan City location is ready to open next year, she said.

The monthly rent also varies by income level. People renting the smallest space, a studio of 529 square feet, would have to pay $655 if they make just under the income ceiling but would pay less if their income is lower.

People renting a one-bedroom unit would have to pay $702 or less, and people renting a two-bedroom unit, which can be up to 1,075 square feet, would have to pay $843 or less.

After an applicant's application is taken, the selection committee will set up an interview.

White said the selection process is probably the most fun part. The committee members, composed of community volunteers, will talk to artists about what type of art they do, what inspires them and why they want to live in Artspace.

Artspace is perfect for the Michigan City community, she added. Artspace is about creating a community where artists can interact with each other, and the city already does monthly art walks and has many businesses to give artists support.

Qualifying candidates can work in the areas of visual and non-visual and be playwrights, actors, graphic artists, sculptors and other professions, she said. Artist is broadly defined. One artist presently living in an Artspace project makes canoes.

"We have a lot of different artistic disciplines in our buildings," she said.

She also enjoy seeing how an artist will use the space in the unit to set up living quarters. She encouraged people to view examples on the website. No artist arranges the space the same as another, she said.

For example, a dancer brought in a special floor to practice, and a musician made his living room a rehearsal area and organized his bedroom with a bed he could pull down so the room could be his real living room during the day.

The 39 projects are spread throughout 15 states and Washington, D.C. and include 1,300 units. Some projects include three in St. Paul, Minnesota; three in Seattle, Washington; and one in New York City.

She hopes to have the selection committee organized so interviews can start in December. On the construction side, she estimates the building to be about 65 percent done.