Did you know that a 10-needle embroidery machine can cost up to $15,000? Or that a pottery wheel can set a ceramist back nearly $1,000? Pottery kilns often require industrial-grade voltage beyond what a home can provide and a single printing press can weigh close to a ton.
This isn't just trivia to toss around at your next party; the numbers represent significant obstacles that working artists face when pursuing a career in the arts. For many, art is more than a profession—it’s a calling. It’s a call to spend days covered in clay, or to own clothing that never escapes a paint splatter or two. It’s the desire to share something meaningful and joy-filled in a world that often feels like it lacks both. But when the tools and spaces required for artistic expression are financially and logistically out of reach, these callings become unattainable.
Arrow Creative opened its doors in 2021 with a clear mission: to provide essential creative and entrepreneurial support to local artists and makers. Arrow’s first phase offered 15 studio spaces and a dedicated retail shop designed to offer artists affordable and accessible spaces. Studios are rented at rates far below the market average, while the built-in retail space offers artists a platform to sell their work, helping them reach a wider audience and generate additional income.
Three years later, Arrow Creative has expanded its mission with the launch of the Creative Labs which provide local artists access to specialized workspaces, professional-grade equipment and shared supplies in mediums that include photography, printmaking, ceramics, sewing and painting. Arrow’s Creative Labs are designed to bring tools and resources typically found only in colleges or universities into the hands of working artists.
Memphis' artistic and creative roots run deep. From the rooms of Graceland to the walls of the Dixon, it’s hard to turn a corner without seeing a space that hasn’t been touched by the arts. In its mission to “keep Memphis creative” for years to come, Arrow is proud to provide this new artistic lifeline to Memphis-area creatives.