Interested in joining us?
The Eclipse Mill is a self-governing condominium association, with an elected Board of Trustees and open decision making process for members of the residential community. Each of the forty loft units in the Eclipse Mill has a unique layout and amenities for both studio practice and residential use.
It is not enough for a prospective Eclipse Mill resident to simply claim the title of “artist.”
The artist applicant must have a verifiable history of a consistent commitment to artistic practice, with emphasis on active engagement within the most recent five years. Further, the artist’s studio process must be consistent with cooperative communal living in terms of health or safety hazards, use of toxic materials, and/or disruptive noise and odors.
The City of North Adams has established a zoning amendment specifically for the Eclipse Mill, as artist studios that allow “accessory residential use”, as stated in the Master Deed and excerpted below:
“Each of the following provisions constitutes a covenant running with the land:
1. The lease of this condominium is subject to a zoning ordinance of the city of North Adams, which restricts the leasing of same to artists.
2. Each lessee agrees that their loft shall be used as an artist’s studio (as defined in the restated Master Deed), with the right to occupy such loft as a single-family private dwelling for residential use being an accessory right.”
You may qualify if:
-
- You can show a demonstrated and documented serious, consistent commitment to your creative discipline, with active engagement within the past five years.
- You create works within established disciplines of Visual Arts including but not limited to: painting, drawing, printmaking, literature, sculpture, digital media artwork, photography, video or filmmaking, multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary artwork.
- You create works within established disciplines of Crafts including but not limited to: textile or fiber arts, woodworking, ceramics, basketry, jewelry making, metal working, traditional folk arts.
- You work within the Performing Arts, including but not limited to: actor, singer, musician, composer, dancer, actor, cultural storyteller, or actively work within supporting roles such as theatrical costume or lighting designer, playwright or director.
- You are engaged in the arts in a directly related role, including but not limited to: Arts educator, conservator, critic, scholar, curator, gallerist.
NOTE: The applicant should be recognized in their field as fulfilling a leadership, educational, critical, or scholarly role. - Your studio process does not present health or safety hazards through use of toxic materials, produce disruptive noise or odors, or otherwise interfere with the creative practice and residential use of neighbors’ spaces.
- You can show a demonstrated and documented serious, consistent commitment to your creative discipline, with active engagement within the past five years.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS:
STEP 1.
Available Lofts
Please contact the owner or agent directly to inquire.
NOTE: The application review process must be completed and approved BEFORE the sale or rental of any unit. Owners and real estate agents are not involved in the application review process and cannot guarantee that you will qualify.
STEP 2.
Submit the online Resident Artist Qualification form
The online password-protected application form is available on request only through the owner of the unit.
Potential buyers/lessees who have expressed interest directly to the owner/owner’s real estate agent must request the link and password from the owner, and complete the online application a minimum of six weeks before the intended closing of sale or lease.
The application form will ask for:
- A professional, currently updated CV of your artistic practice.
- A link to an artist web site or online portfolio that includes examples of your work.
- Supporting evidence and documentation of the applicant’s artistic practice within both the artist website/online portfolio and CV, may reflect an entire creative career, but must include work created within the past five years that demonstrates active, ongoing engagement within your discipline.
- A statement of your artistic practice, including a focus on your current body of work within the last five years.
- Preview the Resident Artist Qualification Application (link coming soon)
STEP 3.
Submission and Review
The application is submitted and reviewed by the Artist’s Review Committee (ARC), a standing committee of resident artist peers.
The Artist Review Committee reviews the submitted material to insure that:
- The applicant has a “demonstrated and documented serious, consistent commitment” to their artistic practice, including active engagement within the last five years.
- The applicant submits all of the required documentation and supporting materials to verify their creative history and practice.
- The applicant’s artistic process does not violate any local health or safety ordinances, and will not present a noise, odor, health, toxic materials, or safety hazard that interferes with the creative practice and residential use in neighboring units.
The ARC forwards its recommendation to the Eclipse Mill Association Board of Trustees, which has the final decision.
Decisions are usually made within four to six weeks of submission.
It is the Owner’s and Applicant’s Responsibilities to comply with the following Rules and Regulations regarding the Artist Application process:
Under the Eclipse Mill Condominium Association Rules and Regulations, Section 3 Loft Sales and Rentals:
“No owner intending to sell or lease their loft may “lobby” members of the ARC, or otherwise try to persuade them to approve or decline the application of a potential buyer or tenant.”
Under the Eclipse Mill Condominium Association Rules and Regulations, Section 7.3. Determination of Artist’s Studio:
“In no event shall any Proposed Artist have any rights, powers, or remedies under any of the Restated Governing Documents, and shall have no claims against the Trust, the Board, or the relevant Owner arising out of or relating to any determination of Artistic Pursuits or Artist’s Studio, including, without limitation, any claims of detrimental reliance.”
The Eclipse Mill Condominium Association does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, age, familial status, children, marital status, veteran status or membership in the armed services, the receiving of public assistance, or physical or mental disability.