The arts...

- Is an economic generator for communities,
- Is an industry that supports jobs,
- Generates government revenue,
- Is a cornerstone of economic growth and development,
- Drives a creativity-based economy, and, 
- Builds healthy, engaged communities.

 Thanks to the efforts of the Downtown Merchants Association, the Visual Arts Center, the Arts & Humanities Council, the City of Punta Gorda and TEAM Punta Gorda, a working artists' studio and gallery, the Artisans' Atelier, is now located at at the Herald Court Centre in Punta Gorda.   Click here to see photos of the atelier opening ceremonies. http://www.teampuntagorda.org/artisansphoto.html

A team of artists, gallery owners, local art organizations and art lovers planned and assessed the needs of artists for studio and gallery space and identified the herald Court Centre as affordable and centrally located.  This is a secure, affordable venue where artists can create, exhibit and sell their work.  The artists must commit to working 18 of the 36 hours the atelier is open.  Current hours are 11am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday and until 8 pm on Gallery Walk,the 3rd Thursday of the month.   Jerry Presseller of the Downtown Merchants Association is the manager of the Atelier.  Artists interested in renting space at the Atelier should contact Jerry at  941-391-4856.

Artisans’ Atelier Celebrates Successful First Year

The Artisans’ Atelier in Punta Gorda held a much deserved one year anniversary celebration on October 4, 2011.  To the surprise and delight of the many volunteers responsible for the Atelier, the facility is fully occupied.

“We are way ahead of the curve,” said Jerry Presseller, President of the Punta Gorda Downtown Merchants Association, the organization responsible for operation of the Atelier.  “We thought it would take perhaps three years to fully rent the space and here we are completely full.”

 “What has really been cool about this project is how so many people and groups worked together to make it happen,” said Clarissa Parodi, chair of the TEAM Punta Gorda Artisans’ Atelier Committee.  “In addition to the many groups who provided funding, we are grateful to Owen, Ames & Kimball as well as TLC Engineering and Alliance Design Group who donated countless hours to assure the success of the project.”

The 15 spaces at the atelier are currently occupied by a variety of artists representing various types of media including writer James Abraham, two-dimensional artists Mark Preuss, Luke Faria and Diane Hayes Mayer and three-dimensional artist John “Dedo” Christina.  Also in the space are fiber artists from Knitwit Studios, G &  S Jewelry Boutique and creators of true-to-life “babies,” Whispering Angels Nursery.