Agenda - 05-04-2021; 6-a - Authorization to Proceed with New Orange County Arts Commission Office and Arts Space and Associated Lease Agreement with Hedgehog Holdings

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3 ORANGE COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION ENO RIVER ARTS MILL BACKGROUND In 2o16,the OCAC began to examine the challenges facing the creative community of Orange County. Data was gathered through listening sessions, surveys, and meetings. The top three needs according to our research were: 1. A strong Local Arts Agency.The OCAC,the Designated County Partner with the NC Arts Council, has significantly strengthened its role as the primary arts agency for Orange County over the last several years. z. Space. A lack of space for artists to thrive is the primary factor impacting the county's creative community.A healthy arts ecosystem offers artists the opportunity to affordably live, as well as work, learn, and create. It also offers residents the opportunity to experience the arts not only as observers, but participants. 3. Access. Despite the wealth of human services offered in Orange County,the arts are primarily available to residents with the financial means to pay.They should be integrated into all aspects of the community, but this is only possible with increased space. To begin to address these concerns,the OCAC received BOCC approval in October, 2019,to enter into a lease agreement with Hedgehog Holdings, a family-run, historic preservation development firm based in Raleigh and owner of the Eno River Mill in Hillsborough. The new partnership allowed the OCAC to offer eleven studio workspaces for local artists.The Eno Mill Artist Studios opened in February 202o, and proved successful and profitable in its first year, exceeding projections even despite the pandemic. Last summer,the OCAC entered into"Phase 2"of the original plan and began renting Suite 29, a large, open space originally intended for classes, exhibits, and events. Suite 29 is connected to the OCAC office. Due to the inability to host gatherings,the space was instead rented by three large-format artists. In early 2021,two front-facing office suites (17A&B)very close to the artist studios became available; during the same time, owners of the Eno Mill were approached by a tenant interested in renting Suite 29 and the OCAC office. ENO ARTS MILL MULTIPURPOSE ARTS SPACE Hedgehog Holdings has offered 17A&B to the OCAC at the extremely generous rate of$1 per square foot.The space, which isjust under 7,000 square feet and ideally situated in an easily accessible location,will allow the OCAC to expand its offerings to the community in ways that will fundamentally change the arts landscape of Orange County and provide real solutions to the identified challenges facing the arts. • A large class space will allow regular arts classes for the community, a long-time need for the Hillsborough area.This will allow the OCAC to generate revenue in two ways by hosting our own classes and by renting out the room to organizations and artists wishing to hold their own art classes. • A large exhibits and events space will allow Eno Mill artists, a well other local artists, high-quality gallery space to display and sell their work.The space can will also be used for small events and gatherings, offering the OCAC another opportunity to generate revenue through rentals of the room. • A welcoming office with a front-facing door. Unlike the current OCAC office whose interior location is difficult to find,the new office will be a bright and centrally located welcoming point for visitors.The space will offer storage, a spacious conference room (currently lacking)as well as an additional room for small classes • Six affordably priced studios or offices for local artists and organizations.These spaces come at a time when some local organizations have lost space;the prospect of finding new space at this rate is nearly impossible. For other organizations,these spaces will allow them to expand their footprint to Hillsborough and/or share space