Those interested in building a business that is art related will soon have a unique opportunity in Downtown DeLand.  The Florida Museum for Women Artists, located on the top floor of the historic Fish Building at 100 N. Woodland Blvd., is offering professional spaces as well as retail gallery space on the ground floor of the museum’s quarters as part of its business incubator project. “We are so pleased the City Commission and the Mayor gave us the opportunity to develop this idea. Our goal is to make the historic Fish Building a downtown destination for fun shopping and cultural programs” said Anna Schrieffer, President and a founding board member of the museum.

The local Executive Board member most involved with execution of the project details is Margaret Hodge. “We are looking for people who want to start a business that supports the arts or is in an art related field and who do not require large spaces. Just to open a small store front requires considerable start up cash.” said Hodge, “Our one fee rent includes overhead costs which are shared between all businesses within the space”.

Business spaces on the ground floor of the historic Fish Building, will vary in size and estimated from [100 to 400] square feet and are planned to be in Suite 3 only at this time.  Suite 3 is located on the northeast side of the first floor.  Rent for the spaces will start at around $500 a month, depending upon the size and location of the unit.  In addition to the space, the rent covers some insurance, security, Internet, electricity and other utilities. Staffing will be shared by the tenants with some support from the museum.  “We are also considering short rental periods of 6 months so that businesses do not have to sign up for a year unless that is something they want to do,” stated Hodge.

Participants in the business incubator will have the benefit of the museum’s many visitors to the second floor galleries and to the museum’s new café and retail space located in suite 2 of the first floor. Suite 2, the most southeast corner of the facility, will offer 2’ x 3’ advertising banner space for appropriate venues for a fee, a natural tea and confection café, art supplies, books, wearable and functional art.. Artists interested in providing products in this space may apply directly to the museum through its web page www.floridamuseumforwomenartists.org. Look for the consignors application for the gift shop.      Hodge said the museum is also interested in including artists seeking simple floor space while maintaining their work space off site: for example, someone who might want to display a piece of hand-made furniture at the museum to promote their work.

Business incubators have been popular since the 1980s as a way to encourage small business development, particularly during periods of economic difficulty. These small business entrepreneurs gain experience and clientele, and then expand in to larger locations.  According to the National Business Incubator Association (NBIA), there are over 1100 business incubators in the United States today.                                                                    

“We’re looking to develop a synergistic group in the space and are open to what these operations might be,” Hodge said, advising applicants for the project to “be creative.”

In its proposal to the city, the museum put forth a concept in which professionals working in a variety of creative endeavors or support services would be tenant-members in the museum’s business incubator.  Potential tenants may contact the museum for an application. The application is brief and helps us understand the interest and the type of art business proposed. Acceptable businesses would cover all the traditional visual art forms but would also include such areas as web design, animation, video art, custom framing, writing, audio recording or business consulting. Tenant members would agree to such responsibilities as managing the space for retail accessibility; handling sales and coordinating with the museum’s sales record system; and providing presentations of their work to the public.

In its first year, the Florida Museum for Women Artists attracted over 5,000 visitors from around the country and locally.  The museum envisions that its business incubator will help turn the landmark Fish Building into a tourist destination as well as an economic contributor to the community. 

Participants in the museum’s business incubator will have the opportunity to build their businesses under the museum’s auspices before moving on to larger quarters. According to Hodge, the museum hopes the artist-entrepreneurs will move into other spaces within the DeLand community and start long-term businesses. In this way, the museum’s business incubator could ultimately benefit the city.

Asked whether the business incubator is open only to women artists, or if male artists would be welcome, Hodge laughed.  “It’s a gender neutral space,” she said. “Anybody can apply.”

For more information, please email crecktenwald@floridamuseumforwomenartists.org 

Support our Supporters!
FMWA thanks the following businesses for supporting  renovations in the first floor expansion.

Hodge’s Painting
Residential and Small Commercial
Serving Volusia and Flager Counties since 1985
386-671-0647

Southern Paint & Supply Co.
Family owned and operated since 1954
Paint, Framing and Art Supplies
Stores: Daytona Beach, Ormond Beach, New Smyrna Beach  www.southernpaintandsupply.com
386-253-8107

If you would like to volunteer to help contact the museum today!

Wish List:
Commercial sink and installation
Podium and sound system