Curley School Campus
- Year Established:2007
- Last Updated: 12/09/2009
Project Overview Description: The Curley School project is the anchor for an arts-based revitalization strategy for the town of Ajo, Arizona. The International Sonoran Desert Alliance (ISDA) purchased the 7.5 acre vacant school campus in 2005. In June 2007, ISDA completed the award-winning rehabilitation of two historic buildings as 30 affordable live/work rental units for artists plus an auditorium with an indoor/outdoor stage. ISDA also renovated adjacent buildings to a retail gallery, business incubator, shared workspace, computer lab, classrooms, meeting rooms, and offices. Programs include business planning for artists and access to capital though matched savings accounts and micro loans.
- Address: 201 Esperanza Ave., Ajo, AZ 85321
- Website: www.curleyschool.com (visit site)
- Telephone: 520-387-3229
- Project Contact: Tracy Taft
- Brief Project Description (100 words): The Curley School project is the anchor for an arts-based revitalization strategy for the town of Ajo, Arizona. The International Sonoran Desert Alliance (ISDA) purchased the 7.5 acre vacant school campus in 2005. In June 2007, ISDA completed the award-winning rehabilitation of two historic buildings as 30 affordable live/work rental units for artists plus an auditorium with an indoor/outdoor stage. ISDA also renovated adjacent buildings to a retail gallery, business incubator, shared workspace, computer lab, classrooms, meeting rooms, and offices. Programs include business planning for artists and access to capital though matched savings accounts and micro loans.
Program / Development Partners
- Public/Civil Sector: Development
- Name: Pima County, AZ
- For-profit Private Sector: Development
- Name: Enterprise Community Investment
- Non-profit Sector: Program
- Name: International Sonoran Desert Alliance
- Creative Industries Served: Visual arts
Included Space Types / Uses
- Live/Work Spaces: Rental
- Total Units(#): 30
- Units for Broader Community(#):30
- Total Affordable Units(#): 30
- Units for Resident Organization(#): 0
- Workspace Studios: Rental
- Total Units(#): 2
- Total Affordable Units(#): 2
- Units for Resident Organization(#): 0
- Work Space/Studios: Area (SF):4000
- Live-Only Spaces: n/a
- Total Units(#): 0
- Units for Broader Community(#):0
- Total Affordable Units(#): 0
- Units for Resident Organization(#): 0
- Live Only: Area (SF): n/a
- Gallery: Available to Public
- Performance/Rehearsal Space: Available to Public
- Dance Studio Area (SF): n/a
- Recording Studio: n/a
- Office Space: For Resident Organizations Only
- Multi-Purpose Space (e.g. for Community Use): Available to Public
- Additional Artist Amenities: Natural light
- Describe Sustainable Strategies Employed (250 words): ISDA rehabilitated historic buildings with minimal demolition, saved and reused red clay roof tiles, implemented xeriscape landscape and water harvesting, used extra insulation and high SEER HVAC systems, used low E double glass when installing new windows, and installed insulated blinds. Utility costs are averaging 30-40% below state guidelines.
- Description of Preservation Work (50 words): ISDA has rehabilitated the Spanish Colonial Revival style Curley School Main Building (1919) and the one story Rancho style building (1937) as live/work artist units, and the 1949 Cafeteria Building to a gallery and microenterprise center—all on the National Register of Historic Places, most at the national level of significance.
- Description of Incubation Facilities, Resources, Programming (50 words): We help artists grow their micro businesses. Facilities include workspace and tools; and a gallery. Services include access to computers and business software; training and technical assistance (business planning); printing and copying (including wide-format), dry mounting, laminating, matting, shipping, and receiving; and capital through matched savings accounts and micro loans.
Links / Images / Attachments
- Links:
- Building Plans:
- Building Elevations:
- Photographs (up to 10):
- Marketing Brochures/Press Clips/Advertisements:
- Community Programming:
Professional Development & Training Services
Technique or studio training/ workshops
Community Service/Engagement Programs
Other
Shared: Facilities and Equipment
Shared: Administrative Infrastructure
Other Shared Resources
- Professional Development & Training Services: Business planning, marketing
- Population served+
Artists and other micro entrepreneurs
- Total Served Per Year:
- Technique or Studio Training/Workshops: Tile mosaic, sculpture, ceramics, puppetry, mime, painting
- Population served+: At risk youth / the whole Ajo community
- Total Served Per Year:
- Other Programs: International Day of Peace Celebration (2-day) & other festivals
- Population served+: Tohono O'odham Nation, Sonora Mexico, and Ajo
- Shared Community Resources - Facilities and Equipment: 4,945 sq. ft. building w/woodworking equipment, kilns, etc. + an indoor/outdoor auditorium / performance venue
- Shared Community Resources - Administrative Infrastructure: Computers, business software, tax prep assistance, and ISDA acts as fiscal steward for artists and community groups seeking grants
- Shared Community Resources - Other: Computer lab (11 stations) w/high speed internet