The Mission of CELLspace
Our mission is to provide a safe and supportive public environment for the exploration of art, education, performance and community building. Through cooperative relationships, CELLspace encourages the celebration of intergenerational, cross-cultural collaborations and the promotion of social justice. History
CELLspace was founded on the Spring Equinox of 1996 when a group of artists and educators leased a former screen printing warehouse on Bryant Street to develop a communal workspace for collaborative and community-based arts. This dedicated staff of volunteers nurtured and developed their vision over the years, and eventually filed for 501c3 (non-profit) status. Events, classes, exhibits, and other types of arts and programming happened while the community developed the actual space inside of CELL, and grants soon came in to support our mission. CELLspace grew in its scope and outreach, expanding into youth services that offered after school arts classes, tutoring, counseling, off-site workshops, leadership opportunities, and vocational training. A three year capital campaign helped a city-mandated renovation project needed to obtain our Place of Entertainment permit. Since our inception, we have provided affordable space for artists to work on many types of media. This not only includes events and exhibits, but also the following: puppetry, circus arts, metalsmithing, fine arts, performing arts, craft making, music recording, and more. Due to many financial difficulties, the Great Recession, and lack of a younger generation of volunteers and supporters, CELLspace dissolved as an organization in 2012. Inspiration, drive, and the DIY ethic lives on in many other art spaces, artist's projects, and hearts and minds of the thousands who created and spectated at the warehouse space.
