Murals in the St. Petersburg Warehouse Arts District. By Seán Kinane / WMNF News (Nov. 2019)
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A short documentary highlighting the rise of a St. Petersburg neighborhood premiered during the city’s Second Saturday Artwalk this month.
The documentary, titled “District Lines: The Rise of the Warehouse Arts District,” was completed by the City of St. Petersburg last fall.
It captures the history and future of the Warehouse Arts District, west of Downtown St. Petersburg, starting from its scrappy beginnings.
Rob Kapusta is a Founding Member of the Warehouse Arts District Association.
“The campus for the Warehouse Arts District was the pits. We had a junkyard dog here when we bought it, not a friendly one either.” Kupusta said in the film.
The film features many artists working in the district, as well as both the former and current mayors of St. Petersburg.
It also addresses the harsh realities of affordability for artists in the city.
“St. Petersburg has lost a number of artists because we’ve become unaffordable. One of our goals is to provide or somehow arrange for affordable housing for our artists.” Kupusta said.
Mark Aeling is the owner of MGA Sculpture Studio in the district.
“The story goes like this, and it happens all over the world. Artists move into run-down parts of town, and their creative energy attracts attention. That attention brings development, development drives up prices, and the artists get pushed out.” Aeling said.
According to the film, the Warehouse Arts District Association is exploring funding options for an affordable artist housing development providing 40-60 artist live-work spaces.