In January, WADA reconstituted a membership committee to focus on building our community of artists.  WADA has nearly 300 members and is committed to serving the needs of our membership. In January, Board Members Caryn Nesmith and Teresa Sullivan conducted focus groups with artist and art supporter members, ArtsXchange artists and business members in order to hear what these groups valued as part of their memberships and what they wanted to see in the future. 

Artists and Arts Supporters seek:

• Exposure, via member shows and online (social media, website, etc)

• Educational opportunities – both artistic and professional development 

• Information Sharing – sharing of goings on, as well as resources for artists

• Affordable studios 

• Community  - community of artists and community outreach

ArtsXchange artists seek:

• Exposure/ Gallery Promotion

• Utilization of events space

• Some self-governance

• Self and collective promotion

• Community

Business members seek: 

• Networking

• Betterment of the District

• Drive business through discounts and exposure

• Supporting the arts

These discussions informed WADA membership goals for 2020.

1. Update Member Benefits and Automated Application and Renewal Processes

2. Quarterly General Membership Meetings or Social Mixers (To be confirmed: May 13, Sep 9, Dec 9)

3. Focus on Social Media Engagement and Website Improvements

4. Publish bimonthly newsletter

5. Establish Yearly Calendar of consistent Member Shows for all levels of artist members

6. Organize outdoor Member Marketplace for Art Walk

7. WADA Ambassadors @ Art Walk and Other Events

In January, the membership committee conducted member focus groups. We were surprised to hear confusion, especially from more recent members, about what is the ArtsXchange vs the Warehouse Arts District Association.  We want to clear this up, so here are some frequently asked questions to serve as a primer.  

What is the Warehouse Arts District Association?

The Warehouse Arts District Association is a non-profit 501c3, with a mission to build and sustain a vibrant arts community in St. Petersburg that supports the success of all artists and the community at large through a broad spectrum of tools, including community revitalization, marketing, advocacy and educational programming within the St. Petersburg Warehouse Arts District.

What is the ArtsXchange? 

The ArtsXchange is a compound housing several warehouses within the Warehouse Arts District. It includes the home office of the Warehouse Arts District Association; the Studios at the ArtsXchange, The Burka Member Lounge, MGA Studios, Soft Water Studios, The Shops, Dazzio’s Art Studios (soon to have a new tenant!), a private studio known as the Poetry Bar and another space that until recently housed a lawnmower building but is seeking new tenants. 

Do WADA Members reside in the Warehouse Arts District boundaries?

Yes, but not exclusively.  The Warehouse Arts District borders are from 16^th St. to 31^st St and from 1^st Ave South to 10th Ave South, but you do not have to be an artist working within the district in order to join WADA as a member.  We advocate for arts in the District by inviting artists regardless of location to be a member.   

 Twenty years ago, Nancy Cohen tossed the shoulder pads, pantyhose, and high heels that had been her corporate uniform into the trash and began classes at the Art Students League of New York.  She spent four of the happiest years of her life there, painting and drawing six hours a day in a community of wildly diverse people who had in common a love for making art. All these years later, she found the same joy and community from art school every time at her studio in the ArtsXchange.  She calls it her happy place. “I am grateful every day to be a part of such a wonderful artist community, doing what I love in such an amazing city,” Cohen said. 

Cohen has been at the ArtsXchange since it opened in 2017, knows the hard work it’s taken to get it going and keep it going.  She wanted to lend her business acumen from her time as a Director of Marketing and Communications for one of the largest banks in the country, combined with her understanding of the concerns of fellow artists to make a contribution toward the future of the place she loves so much.  Cohen believes the Warehouse Arts District can help make St Petersburg a mecca for artists and a top destination for art in the country and says she’s honored to have been chosen to be a member of the board to help in that effort.

Diane Bailey Morton, who served as executive director of the Warehouse Arts District Association for two years, left WADA January 31, 2020.  President Mark Aeling noted her many accomplishments during that time, including increasing WADA’s profile with the many high caliber exhibitions she oversaw in the Tully-Levine Gallery, the great publicity WADA received during her tenure in TV, Newspapers and magazines, the WEDU Be More non-profit Arts and Culture award, and many other collaborations with non-profits in the area.  She expanded business memberships for WADA, received a donation that allowed us to pave the plaza and create the Burka Member Lounge. She was responsible for the vision behind Phase II of the ArtsXchange, for which we are raising funds now for a new Education and Performance Center and created a dance advisory board for the organization. Thanks to Diane’s stewardship, we are in a much better position as an organization for the future.  WADA is assessing its needs over the next several months and intends to have a search for Diane’s replacement in the spring or summer of 2020. 

Dear WADA Members,

Thank you to those who attended our February 12th general membership meeting.  We had a great turn-out and a lively discussion. If you weren’t able to make it, here's a link to what we presented. I am also thankful for members who participated in the focus groups and talks last month. They gave me a good sense of what our membership likes and would like to see more of. Thanks also to three business members who met with me one-on-one to talk about ways to promote the arts and their businesses: Meredith Rogers of Sapphire Audio Visual Experts, which has a new home in the District; Damien Bertucelli of Raymond James, and Richard McGinness of Modern Tampa Bay Homes.

Get Involved!  

If you’re already a member, join us in growing the organization, advocating for the arts and artists, and improving the District.  I volunteer my time because I want to be a part of a supportive and thriving community. I hope you will join me.  

Member Network on Facebook!

Members should join the WADA Member Network on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/WADAMemberNetwork/ where we can talk to each other, get updates, and post your own announcements to the group. 

Sign up to Volunteer!

• Join a committee (Education, Membership, Fundraising, Marketing). See contact info below for committee chairs. 

• Be a WADA Ambassador @ Art Walk or other events. Sign up here:https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040948a8aa2aa4fc1-artwalk 

• Help plan Member Art Shows 

• Plan Outdoor Marketplace 

• Contribute Web, Marketing, Social Media Design Skills

• Volunteer for the Fundraising Committee to help with events or outreach

Contact us with questions or to get involved!

• Membership: Caryn @ joinwada@gmail.com 

• Fundraising and Marketing:  Teresa @ tsullivan435@gmail.com 

• Education: Julie @ julie@rejuled.com 

• General Information:  Michelene @ warehouseartsdistrict@gmail.com 

As membership chair, I will provide you with updates from the WADA Membership Committee. We want to keep you up to date on everything going on with the association. 

Finally, mark your calendar for our next general membership meeting/social on Wednesday, May 13th at 6 pm.  

Sincerely, 

Caryn Nesmith
Board Member and Membership Committee Chair