Staying in Pittsburgh

As graduation nears, many art students consider where to continue making their work. While some artists leave for New York and California , many also consider the thriving art community around them: right here in Pittsburgh .

Pittsburgh is a great place for emerging artists. Why?

1. It is cheap to live here. As a recent art graduate, affordable housing will often be a factor when you choose where to go after school.
2. It is an interesting mid-sized city with a fairly thriving young art and music scene.
3. There is a large number of accessible venues in which to exhibit.
4. It has a large-city infrastructure (with museums like the Warhol and the Carnegie Museum of Art).
5. Foundation money is available in the form of artist grants.
6. There is a close-knit community of artists. Here in Pittsburgh people tend to look out for and be supportive of each other, unlike in other larger cities with more competitive markets.
7. Great local events, like the Roboto Arts Fair and Handmade Arcade, are available.
8. Several good art stores, including Artist & Craftsman and Utrecht , are nearby.

Many CMU Art alumni have chosen to stay in Pittsburgh , and now share their advice and experiences below. Also included are descriptions and contact information of local art facilities, studios, organizations, and resources.

Facilities and Supplies:

There are several organizations in Pittsburgh that offer tools, machinery, and space for students to continue making art after they graduate. For example, you can pay for studio space at the Brewhouse in Southside, where they might find artists there with machinery. Classes that include access to tools and facilities are available at several organizations, which are listed below.

Try getting to know as many local artists, designers, woodworkers, etc. and find out if they need assistants. As an employee, you should be allowed to use their facilities. Finding available facilities to continue doing artwork after graduation can be difficult, so the best advice is to start acquiring tools now.

But remember: art graduates are not allowed access to the School of Art facilities, such as the digital print lab, woodshop, printmaking studios, and foundry, unless they are still affiliated with the university through either employment or continuing coursework.

Artists Image Resource

•  http://www.artistsimageresource.org

•  Printmaking workshops

•  Open studio and equipment access

•  Teaching and exhibition opportunities

-> 518 Foreland Street , 15212

(412) 321-8664

 

Construction Junction

•  http://www.constructionjunction.org/

•  Non-profit retail store for used and surplus building materials

•  Hosts craft fair Handmade Arcade ( http://www.handmadearcade.com/index.html )

-> At the corner of North Lexington and Meade in Point Breeze

(412) 243-5025

 

Manchester Craftsmen's Guild

•  http://www.manchesterguild.org/indexflash.htm

•  Exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and residencies available

•  Ceramics, photography facilities, etc.

-> 1815 Metropolitan Street , 15233

(412) 322-1773

 

Pittsburgh Glass Center

•  http://www.pittsburghglasscenter.org

•  Studio and Tool rentals

•  Classes, private lessons, residency programs available

-> 5472 Penn Avenue , 15206

(412) 365-2145

 

Silver Eye Center for Photography

•  http://www.silvereye.org

•  Exhibition, portfolio review, workshop opportunities

-> 1015 East Carson Street , 15203

(412) 431-1810

 

Society for Contemporary Craft

•  http://www.contemporarycraft.org/index.html

•  Clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, found materials

•  Studio classes available

•  Exhibition opportunities

-> 2100 Smallman Street , 15222 (Strip District)

(412) 261-7003

 

Postcard and Other Printing Resources:

Custom Postcards

•  www.custompostcards.com

Broudy Printing

•  www.broudyprinting.com

Trust Franklin Press

•  www.trust-franklinpress.com

General Press Corporation

•  www.generalpress.com

Geyer Printing

•  www.geyerprinting.com

Graphic Arts Color Corporation

•  www.gaccpgh.com

Photography and Graphics Services at Mellon Institute

•  http://www.cmu.edu/upgs/pgs/index.html

Reed & Witting Company

•  www.reed-witting.com

 

Online Printers

Overnight Prints

•  www.overnightprints.com

Online Print House

•  www.onlineprinthouse.com

48 Hour Print

•  www.48hourprint.com

iprint

•  www.iprint.com

PrintingforLess

•  www.printingforless.com

PsPrint.com

•  www.psprint.com

VistaPrint.com

•  www.vistaprint.com

 

Art Resources, Centers, and Organizations:

Pittsburgh is rich in art organizations that are eager to help emerging artists. Many offer memberships and help to create a community of creative professionals. Opportunities to show and see work are abundant through the various exhibitions available. These organizations provide local artists with useful resources, including consulting services, health insurance assistance, and loan and grant funds.

Several arts organizations specialize in providing affordable living and studio spaces for emerging artists. Consider finding group housing with friends and share the cost of rent. Remember that many people in Pittsburgh want to see the arts culture thrive, and thus are willing to lend a hand.

16:61 Design Zone

•  http://www.1662designzone.com/

•  (see Blackbird Artist Studios below)

-> 5170 Butler Street , 15201

(412) 782-5100 x103

 

Articulate

•  http://www.art-iculate.org/

•  Displays local art in online gallery

•  Networking for artists, galleries, and art organizations

•  Exhibitions, educational programs, public art programs

-> 5314 Butler Street , 15201

 

Associated Artists of Pittsburgh

•  http://www.aapgh.org/index.html

•  Exhibition opportunities

-> 6300 Fifth Avenue , 15232

(412) 361-1370

 

Blackbird Artist Studios

•  http://1662designzone.com/blackbird.htm

•  Affordable studio and retail space

•  Opportunities for the public to visit artists, ask questions, and purchase work

-> 3583 Butler Street , 15201

(412) 782-5100 x103

 

Cool Space Locator

•  http://www.coolspacelocator.com/index.html

•  A non-profit commercial real estate organization

•  Assist with move planning and budgeting

•  Negotiates lease and purchase agreements

•  Connects you to community organizations that can help

-> 279 45 th Street , 15201

(412) 683-5790

 

Encyclopedia Destructica

•  http://www.encyclopediadestructica.com/

•  A creative zine for artists' sketch work

 

Garfield Artworks

•  http://www.garfieldartworks.com/

•  Art and performance space

-> 4931 Penn Avenue , 15224

(412) 361-2262

 

Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council

•  http://www.pittsburghartscouncil.org

•  Artist Database

•  Grants and workshops available

•  Consulting resources (volunteer lawyers for the arts)

•  Links to resources for artists (i.e. health insurance, etc.)

•  Membership events and meetings

-> 707 Penn Avenue , 2 nd Floor, 15222

(412) 391-2060

 

Penn Avenue Arts Initiative

•  http://www.pennavenuearts.org/index.html

•  Projects and events to grow and support the art community

•  Assists artists in renovating, owning, and/or renting their own live/work space

•  Artist loan and grant funds available

-> 5530 Penn Avenue , 15206

(412) 441-6147

 

Pittsburgh Center for the Arts

•  http://www.pittsburgharts.org

•  Education programs and exhibitions

-> 6300 Fifth Avenue , 15232

(412) 361-0873

 

Pittsburgh Filmmakers

•  http://www.pghfilmmakers.org

•  Film, video, photography, digital media

•  Equipment and facilities available

•  Instructional program, exhibition opportunities

-> 477 Melwood Avenue , 15213

(412) 681-5449

 

Pittsburgh Society of Artists

•  http://www.pittsburghsocietyofartists.org/index.htm

•  Exhibition opportunities

•  Membership meetings

-> 6300 Fifth Avenue , 15232 ( Pittsburgh Center for the Arts)

(412) 734-1120

 

Spinning Plate Artist Lofts

•  http://www.artspaceusa.org/neighborhood/spinningplate/

•  37 live/work apartments

•  Spacious first floor gallery for resident artists to showcase work

-> 5720 Friendship Avenue , 15206

(412) 829-3910

 

The Brew House

•  http://www.brew-house.org/

•  Residencies, exhibitions, performances, education outreach

•  SPACE 101

•  Affordable living and studio loft spaces for artists

-> 2100 Mary Street , 15203

(412) 381-7767

 

The Mr. Roboto Project

•  http://www.therobotoproject.org/index.html

•  A cooperatively-run show space, art gallery, and zine library

•  Artist community, membership

-> 702 Wood Street , 15221

(412) 247-9639

 

The Sprout Fund

•  http://www.sproutfund.org/

•  Public art program

•  Grants available

•  Community art projects

-> 4920 Penn Avenue , 15224

(412) 325-0646

 

Three Rivers Arts Festival

•  http://www.artsfestival.net/index.html

•  Annual events and exhibitions

-> 937 Liberty Avenue , 15222

(412) 281-8723

 

Unicorn Mountain

•  http://www.unicornmountain.com/index.html

•  Cross-disciplinary art collective

•  Publication opportunities for artists

 

Union Project

•  http://www.unionproject.org/

•  Art community

•  Space available to host art activities

•  Ceramics and stained glass art promoted, created, and taught

•  Membership, co-op rental opportunities

-> 801 North Negley Avenue , 15206

(412) 363-4550

 

Art Neighborhoods:

Both fortunately and unfortunately, Pittsburgh 's artists are scattered all over the city. It's hard to find a neighborhood that isn't populated with artists. Major art neighborhoods have the right combination of affordable housing, startup galleries, restaurants, and access to transportation that make them the most likely places to find young artists living in Pittsburgh. Some notable art neighborhoods include:

 

1. Penn Avenue /Bloomfield
2. Southside
3. Lawrenceville
4. Strip District
5. Garfield

For neighborhood profiles, visit:

http://www.pitt.edu/~pittarts/pitt/neighborhoods.html

http://www.pittsburghneighborhoodtours.com/pr13/tours/tourDetail.asp?nTour=3

 

Art Opportunities:

Local schools and universities have often hired CMU Art graduates to teach classes and workshops. The Mattress Factory, the Andy Warhol Museum , and the Carnegie Museum Department of Education have all hired School of Art graduates. The City Paper has also hired graduates to write art reviews.

 

Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh

•  http://www.carnegiemuseums.org/hr/

-> 4400 Forbes Avenue , 15213

(412) 622-3310

 

Mattress Factory

•  http://www.mattress.org/

-> 500 Sampsonia Way , 15212

(412) 231-3169

 

Pittsburgh City Paper

•  http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/index

-> 650 Smithfield Street, Suite 2000 , 15222

(412) 316-3342

 

The Andy Warhol Museum

•  http://www.warhol.org/

-> 117 Sandusky Street , 15212

(412) 237-8300

 

~By Yvonne Chan Special thanks to Stephanie Armbruster, Adam Grossi, Terry Hritz, and Clayton Merrell