Studio 208 – Canton Ohio’s Newest Creative Studio
WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
Technically, the greater area of Canton, Ohio. But in a bigger sense, working on a huge project! I’m so excited to talk a little more about what I’ve been up to all summer!
I was approached by a friend and local artist, Tim Carmany, owner of The Hub Art Factory. He had the opportunity to re-open Second April to its former glory as a mainstay of the downtown Canton Arts District. Inside, there are two floors of artists and local small businesses… And I’m one of them!
My new studio space is called Studio 208, honoring the room number (208) within the building.
I’ve been full-time in my photography business since 2018, and I always tell people when asked, “the only thing I miss about the corporate world is co-workers.” Chances are, you’re here reading this because you know me. So you know how much I love people!
Well, I’m not alone anymore! Moving into this space has been such a cool opportunity to get to know other artists, and to grow deeper into that part of myself. I’ve always considered myself creative but I’ve always shied away from the title “artist.” It felt like a title that I hadn’t earned. Moving into and growing in this space has brought out many other artistic interests that I didn’t know I had!
WHY STUDIO 208?
I decided to create a separate name for this space (instead of LovelyInk Studio, like my last space) because I feel like this space is about so much more than me and my small business! This space is intended to be collaborative. It’s a space for rentals and workshops, community fun and learning something new. Here are the three main ways I’m using the space:
Workshops: My goal in Studio 208 is to connect local artists with community members. Together, these workshops give artists new audiences to see their work (both from attendees and through our marketing efforts) and offer participants a way to test out a new skill or craft, while meeting new people in a low-stakes environment! Workshops range from watercolor to cookie decorating to floral arrangement and more. There are always new creative workshops popping up on the schedule so please consider supporting our local art community AND exploring something new! Through this, I’ve also stepped back into helping other small businesses market themselves!
Events: Studio events are tied closely to workshops! My goal is to create a mix of paid workshops and free community events so there’s something for everyone. My most recent favorites have been a clothing swap, our monthly book club, and our creative studio meet-up. For the creative studio meet-up, I teamed up with Canton Creative Meetup and we welcomed over 20 creatives into the space to network and develop creative work from a new perspective.
Rentals: The studio offers 500 sq ft of modern creative space available for other photographers to rent on a daily or hourly basis. It uses bold but neutral colors with versatile seating and props. It matches my photography style perfectly, but also leaves plenty of space for others to create or highlight their own. I’ve chosen to keep my rental fees low in order to offer the space to more people.
WHAT’S NEXT
Honestly, I plan to lean into exactly what I’ve been getting started here. More artistic expression and more community! As I’ve been working through these new things, it’s also deepened my relationship with the downtown community. I’m excited for the work we’re doing together to show people that our community offers so much to do. You just have to look!
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT
I can’t thank everyone enough for the trust they’ve place in me to capture their family memories. I look forward to continuing that work, and expanding back to my marketing roots by helping other small businesses build their communities. I hope that through workshops, events and rentals, we are creating a space where community meets creativity. Recommending me for photography, attending an event at the studio, and encouraging a friend to try something new are the best ways to support your local community!
