Studio program seeks support

The future of the Space Program, a project of the Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation, is again in question. When its rent was doubled three years ago, the program, which provides free artists' studios in New York's Tribeca neighborhood, was on the verge of folding. But after reading a story in these pages, an anonymous donor came forward at the last minute with a one-time check covering the rent for three years for the existing Sharpe studio spaces [see "Front Page," June '01; "Artworld," Sept. '01]. That same donor also sponsored a 10-year survey exhibition of Sharpe artists at Ace gallery, and paid for the publication of a catalogue and a dinner. The successful program has helped launch the careers of numerous artists. This year, 1,100 applications were submitted for 14 studio spaces.

Now, according to executive director Joyce Robinson, the foundation is again faced with the difficulty of paying increased rent, since its current lease is due to expire on Aug. 31. The cost to run the program is $400,000 per year, which works out to about $29,000 per studio. The Sharpe Foundation is able to supply only half of that amount. Robinson is seeking private donors and is also working to put together a consortium of foundations to help fund the program's continuation. So far, the Judith Rothschild Foundation and the Richard Florsheim Fund have pledged support. The Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation can be reached at (800) 776-9815, or 830 North Tejon Street, Suite 120, Colorado Springs, CO 80903.

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