The high cost of housing and commercial space is a large obstacle to artists who live and create on St. John. A co-operative workspace for artists would allow for a shared economy. This collaborative space would help people to learn a craft - allowing artistic cultural heritage to traverse generations. This is a key element of sustainability for recovery.

This model also allows for tourism, which can often dilute existing culture, to become a driving force in cultural preservation. This space can become a part of creating culture-tourism that focuses on the heritage, history of this special place. The vision is to have a cooperative artist working space and exhibits co-located. Visitors could commission art, and visit the gallery. This will help tourists and residents make a more personal connection and give artists a better economic opportunity. It will also provide much needed space for artists to get started and gain momentum toward developing their own working/ selling space. It is often challenging for beginning artists to afford a space to sell their product. This model will sustain itself as an artist becomes established and is able to build their own space, thus freeing up the cooperative space.

IMPLEMENTATION STEP: 1. Identify a space and to procure necessary agreements/funding. A design process for the facility can be accomplished through a collaborative process with current and upcoming artists to ensure the space is designed in the best way possible.

Key Players: St.JanCo; St. John LTRT Alignment: Econ RSFs Cost: $100,000- $500,000 Timeline: < One - Three Years