The art of doing business downtown: collective sets up business incubator/gallery for local artists and artisans.

'Starving artist' is one label some business-minded and art-inspired individuals in North Bay hope to put to bed.

Over the years, the city has developed a reputation as a place where artists interact, support each other and come to feel inspired.

Now they have a launching pad to be entrepreneurs, with a new artists co-op in the downtown core as North Bay intends to fully cultivate its image as a community of artists.

The city's small business centre and several community development partners are working with 27 area artists to teach them how to run a business while showcasing each other's work.

The opening of the downtown storefront, known as Art on Main, is designed to better connect local artists with the community.

"We knew there was a lot of local artists but no venue for people to actually get to their work or access it," says Karen Jones, manager of the Business Centre for Nipissing-Parry Sound.

Jones teamed up with North Bay's Downtown Improvement Area and NECO Community Futures Development Corporation to put together the collective.

On the flip side, many artists haven't the foggiest notion on how to run a business or promote themselves.

For an initial $100 investment fee and $50 monthly, members are entitled to unlimited benefits through the Business Centre.

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The artists run the store and sell each other's work. Membership dues go directly back into the co-op and help pay for rent and any marketing efforts they take up.

"It's a platform in North Bay for local artists to come in and it's accessible to everyone," says co-op manager Molly Reeder, the building's owner and an artist who makes jewelery. "It's not hard to cover your $50 a month especially when you're selling.

"We do not take any commission, so everything the artist makes goes directly back to the artist. The rent money they pay and any money from fundraisers goes back into keeping it going."

About a year ago, Reeder bought the three-story Main Street West building and spent more than $10,000 on renovations at the former Railton's Camera Studio together with some financial and in-kind contributions from the Business Centre, NECO and other donors.

Jones says the project is in the hands of the local artists. "We only wanted to give them a shove. It's the members of the co-op that allow it to be self-sustaining."

The Business Centre provides the artists with support services, how-to seminars, mentorship and is drawing up a business-training program specifically for the art community.

Recently, they enlisted the expertise of Mary Marchant, a North Bay resident with experience in international advertising and marketing for a day-long seminar.

North Bay has become well known for its vibrant arts scene. Last year, the city was selected by TV Ontario's Studio Two program among the most talented towns in Ontario in a province-wide competition. The city finished third among 55 communities as selected by a panel of judges.

"We're sort of like a hidden treasure," says Reeder. "Maybe it's the lakes, nature, the serene atmosphere. It's a gem, but it's underutilized."

The artists' co-op is viewed as a perfect fit for the image North Bay wants to project for its highly successful downtown and waterfront revitalization efforts.

www.city.north-bay.on.ca

By IAN ROSS 

Northern Ontario Business