STARKVILLE — When Heath Kleinke, Eric Abbott and Carey Estes opened the Cre8tive Warehouse in April 2008, their goal was to provide a work space where local artists could feed off each other”s creativity.
Two years later, the Cre8tive Warehouse is on the verge of closing.
Both Estes and Abbott have left the Warehouse partnership in recent months due to other obligations, and Kleinke plans to relocate to Hattiesburg after he finishes his remaining graphic design projects in Starkville. It could be a few weeks or a few months before Kleinke relocates, he said, which would leave the building at Lampkin and Washington streets without tenants.
Rent for the Warehouse was paid for by the co-founders, artists who rented workspace and with proceeds from art sales.
Kleinke worked at the Warehouse full time, but also taught design classes at Mississippi State University until last fall when his position was cut. He then began working nights at Harvey”s to help make ends meet and keep the Warehouse open.
But the $1,800-a-month rent, coupled with utilities, has become too expensive for Kleinke to handle on his own.
“I”ve got too much overhead to support the Warehouse as just one person,” he said. “I can only do so much.”
Kleinke is unsure how much longer the Warehouse will remain open — the lease expires at the end of July — but one local artist is making an effort to keep the building at the center of Starkville”s arts scene.
Dylan Karges, a member of several local organizations, including the Starkville Area Arts Council and the city”s Beautification Committee, has set up a meeting at the Warehouse Friday to discuss the future of the building. He is encouraging the public to attend and contribute ideas.
Karges said he would like to see if the building can function as a “cooperative hub,” housing offices for local non-profit organizations, alternative board rooms/meeting spaces, artist studio space and exhibition galleries. He also would like to see after-school or summer arts programming for children and youth at the building.
There are plenty of possibilities, he said. The building even could be used for senior citizen activities or serve as a permanent weekday home for local produce vendors since the Starkville Community Market only operates on Saturdays.
But nothing is set in stone yet, Karges said, which is why he is inviting the public to Friday”s brainstorming session.
“There are many possibilities and I would like to gather to share and explore the space, and summer and future programming options,” Karges said. “This, I hope, will provide guidance and support alternative routes for developing programming that can produce revenue to cover overhead for the facility and provide a diverse, energetic and enlightened resource for responsible and proactive community development, arts-based community development and public works.”
The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Coffee, tea and water will be provided. The public is encouraged to bring dessert to share.
Starkville attorney Rob Roberson owns the building, but did not return a phone call for comment.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.