The NTC Promenade at Liberty Station: A City-Run Creative Community
About the NTC Promenade
The Promenade is a 10 year old center for arts, culture, science and technology based at the former Naval Training Center in Point Loma. 26 historic buildings have been restored on 28 acres to house a variety of non-profit and for-profit companies and organizations. 42 small and mid-sized groups at the NTC Promenade include arts schools, galleries, artist studios, shops and arts organizations. The proximity of these arts groups has created a collaborative creative community, resulting in joint business ventures and multi-disciplinary projects. An example is Dance Place, a shared dance facility unique to the Promenade.
The NTC Foundation is a non-profit organization formed by the city of San Diego. Although rents for studio space are somewhat higher than in other locales, the foundation strives to accommodate a variety of tenants, with grants to subsidize lower income artists. Because the property is on a 55-year lease, artists are assured stability of affordable rent not influenced by market fluctuations and dislocations resulting from gentrification.
The NTC property is leased from the city at low cost, but the foundation has funded the extensive renovation of the buildings through tenant rental fees, event and meeting space rental fees, philanthropy, and negotiation of tax credits. Currently, further renovation plans are proceeding as scheduled.
In addition to the Promenade, Liberty Station also includes several other districts, including a park and recreational area, and districts designated for retail, offices, education, hotels, and residential uses.
Our site visit to the Promenade
The NTC Promenade was our first stop in San Diego. Upon stepping out of the van, immediately I was struck by the spaciousness of the campus-like facilities, and how quiet and peaceful it was being away from the hubbub of the more urban spaces I generally frequent in San Jose.
We started our visit by meeting with Felicia Shaw at the San Diego Foundation office near the Promenade. The building was being remodeled, and Felicia explained that it was a model for green building practices. The offices were also designed with many transparent walls so that there would be a spirit of openness between residents. Within the exterior of an 87 year old naval station, there was a definite feeling of modernity and innovation in these offices.
We dined on tasty bag lunches from one of the local restaurants in the retail district of Liberty Station. After a quick debriefing, we met with Executive Director Alan Ziter from the NTC Foundation. As he led us on a walking tour of the Promenade, he told us of the history, mission, and operations of his organization. Describing his site as “The Nordstrom’s of art studio space”, he acknowledged that his foundation serves mostly more established artists and organizations. However, it offers grants supporting emerging artists, as well as grants providing core arts instruction for school children at the Promenade.
We visited several residents of the Promenade. These included gallery space for an arts group working with disadvantaged children, a quilt gallery, a retail space for works by developmentally disabled artists, artist studios, and a chocolatier’s shop. Although housed in somewhat institutional military barracks, all of the art spaces felt vibrant and fresh, as if reflecting the spirit in which the buildings were converted.
When asked about her experience at the Promenade, a resident art teacher replied that it was very positive having so many artists in close to proximity to each other. Alan talked of collaborations that had happened: a choreographer commissioning costumes from a fashion designer, and then working with the chocolatier to provide chocolates at the dance performance; an artist painting portraits of resident dancers, displaying the works at a dance studio, and then selling them as a result. A regular event is the Friday Night Liberty Open Studios, Galleries, and Performances. This promotes artists’ work and brings in larger audiences than would be possible for isolated individual artists. The high profile of the location has also increased the membership of organizations such as the Watercolor Society and Visions Art Quilt Gallery. The popularity of dance classes at the Dance Place has helped to support the many dance groups on site as well.
I found the NTC Promenade to be a very pleasant facility for artists, with a somewhat upscale feel. The fact that it is currently expanding even during a recession, is a positive sign for artists, as well as an indicator that this model of art space is working for San Diego.
Alan Ziter, Director of NTC Foundation, discusses how the various arts districts would benefit working together to raise the profile of visual arts in San Diego.
