FAQ

What are the lease terms?
One year leases are required, with the first month’s payment in advance.

Who runs the joint?
There is a person who is responsible for day-to-day operation of the studios. Beyond that, the members of the building make the decisions regarding the use of the building. There are frequent meetings at which subjects such as security, studio strolls, noise, public access, the wine supply and maintenance are addressed.

Can studio spaces be shared?
Sharing studios is permissible and there are several shared studios now. The lease needs to be in the name of one person, however. Depending on the media, two or three people can comfortably occupy one studio. Beyond that, we need to talk and there may be an additional charge.

Can I alter my studio?
Yes, absolutely. We want your space to fit your needs, but we need to approve any changes or improvements before they’re made. We assume some folks may want to strip their floors, build partitions, change the lighting, alter the sink area or repaint their spaces, for instance.

Can I buy a studio?
We want to work out a way for the studios eventually being available for purchase. Because of tax restrictions, we can’t do it for five years, which should give us all enough time to settle in and work out the details.

Will there be a website for Marshall High Studios?
Eventually, this website will be converted to one specifically for the
tenants of the Studios. For now, we’re using it to answer questions
about the project. The next update will include links to all the
tenants.

What about fire safety?
Besides four fire exits and lighted fire exit signs, the building is sprinklered. This includes all the occupied spaces, as well as above and below the occupied spaces. We encourage every tenant to have at least one fire extinguisher in his or her studio.

I have special needs for my work. How should I address them?
We’ve already anticipated some needs such as waterproof flooring, kiln wiring and a quiet area, but we invite you to talk with us prior to committing to a space. Some spaces are easy to add extra ventilation to, for instance, while others are problematic. We have areas that can take heavy weight loads.

Can I live in the studio?
No. Besides lots of legal, zoning and insurance reasons, that’s just not what Marshall High Studios are about.

Can I rent temporarily?
Eventually, no, but as long as we have open studios, we have allowed artists to rent space on a temporary basis to complete a project or to have a workshop or temporary exhibition. Give us a call if you have an interest.

What’s the rest of the island used for?
There are only two buildings on the island: ours and an old gym. The island is now grass, trees and a nature walk. There are plans to totally renovate the island into a beautiful park with an amphitheater, a pavilion, a kayak put in, fishing piers, and an art park. A farmer’s market now shares our island every Sunday.

Rumor is the island floods. Is that true?
Yes, it’s true. Locals love to tell tales of students getting out of school when the island flooded. In all the incidents since the building’s construction in 1925, there has never been water on the first floor of the building. Water has been in the basement many times (and we are installing pumps to take care of that possibility). In all cases, there has been plenty of warning: everyone here knows when water is building up in Asheville and points south, and has had at least a 24 hour warning that high waters are heading towards Marshall. Although the school building is on an island in the river, it is higher than most of the buildings in downtown Marshall. In the two recent “100 year floods” that hit WNC, no water entered the first floor of the building, even though it totally flooded the Biltmore area of Asheville and threatened the river district of Asheville. This is, of course, no guarantee that water will never enter the building, but there will be plenty of warning.