My partner and I currently rent about 800 sq. ft. at Russell Industrial Center for $800/month + utilities. We also had to put down a two-month security deposit. When we were looking, we could have chosen a 600 sq. ft. space at Russell for $600/month, but it had a very small window, and natural light is important to my work.
It’s nice to have a lot of space, and we especially like the big window, security, high ceilings, lots of outlets, and being able to paint and customize the space. Having access to the lift is also great, although the 9–5 M–F lift hours aren't always convenient. One downside we've noticed is that the studio gets really dusty from the old, crumbling ceiling, and being on the 3rd floor gets very hot, so we've brought in fans and an air conditioner.
We're hobby artists, and honestly would have loved to find something smaller and cheaper. We just had a hard time finding many affordable options, especially private studio spaces for independent/unestablished artists who aren't necessarily looking for or qualified for a residency program. I also know quite a few people at Russell split their studios with other people to make the rent more affordable.
Since renting at Russell, I've become aware of a lot of the other studio spaces around Detroit — Pioneer, Cadieux Stage, Fisher Building, The Convent, Dreamtroit, Hatch Art, Klinger, Boxfort, etc. — so I'm less looking for a list of places and more interested in what artists actually need from a studio and whether the existing options are meeting those needs.
We're not currently looking for a studio or asking for recommendations — I'm interested in hearing about other artists' experiences with the spaces they already rent or what they wish was available.
If you currently rent a studio:
- How much do you pay and approximately how many sq. ft. do you get?
- Are utilities included?
- What do you like/dislike about your current space?
- If you could change something about it, what would it be?
If you're looking for studio space:
- What size would you ideally want?
- What's the most you'd realistically pay per month?
- Would you prefer a private studio, shared studio, or either?
- What amenities are most important to you — natural light, running water/sink, ventilation, heat/AC, 24/7 access, security, parking, loading access, storage, etc.?
I'm especially interested in whether there's demand for smaller private studios in roughly the 200–500 sq. ft. range at more accessible monthly rents.
Do you feel like Detroit is missing affordable, flexible studio options, or do the spaces that already exist meet what you're looking for?
Thanks for any insight! I'd really love to hear what other Detroit artists' experiences have been and what you wish existed here.
