Around the U.S. and around the world, there are a myriad of working artist studios “under one roof” where visitors are encouraged to visit and interact with a community of working artists.   The visitors have an enhanced arts experience, and if they and their work are compelling the artists experience greater sales of their works.   Some of these organized artist campuses attempt both a work (studio space) and live (resident) aspect.   Some of the interesting programmatic aspects of the facilities include the extent to which shared and collaborative workspaces are included, and, to what extent visitors (tourists) are formally encouraged.

Among the best offerings, these campuses include artists working in a wide variety of art forms.  This provides an exciting possibility for artists interested in executing or collaborating to create mixed-media works, and, for visitors to the facility who may enjoy seeing all manner of artwork being executed.

The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria (Virginia) is home to over 165 professional artists who work, exhibit and sell their art. Drawing over half a million visitors a year, the Torpedo Factory Art Center attracts artists from across the region and around the world.   Among real estate developers and entertainment specialists, the Torpedo Factory Art Center remains one of the interesting analogs for such facilities particularly due to the facility encouraging tourist tours and purchase of works by the facility’s artists.

Other examples include:

• Parker Art Studios at 1000 Parker Street in Vancouver (British Columbia).
• The Cigar Factory Artist Studios in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
• Grand Marais Art Colony in Minnesota, first organized in 1947.