The Project

Marshall High Studios, which opened in late 2007, is located on Blanahassett Island in downtown Marshall, 25 minutes from downtown Asheville. The building, built in 1925, is the old Marshall High School. It consists of 28 studios, most of them original classrooms, plus the old auditorium and stage. The building has been completely renovated, but not to the point where the spirit of an old school building is compromised.The spaces are available for lease to those who seek work spaces in an environment of creative sharing. We particularly invite serious artists of all media to join us. This website is an introduction to the building, the details of leasing, and the town of Marshall. Let us know if you have questions we’ve not answered. We invite you to share this website with others.

Each studio features:
+ Hardwood maple floors
+ Hot and cold water
+ Individually controlled heat
+ Large windows facing the northeast or southwest
+ Ducted fresh air ventilation
+ Cat5 wiring and wi-fi throughout
+ Old schoolroom blackboards and bulletin boards
+ River views from all studios, park and/or town views from most
+ 12 foot high ceilings
+ New lighting
+ piping for possible future air conditioning

The building features:
+ Solar powered hot water
+ 8 foot wide hallways with track lighting
+ Enormous community deck overlooking garden area
+ Loading dock and ramp
+ Handicap access
+ Renovated bathrooms with mop sinks
+ Complete sprinklering
+ Basement storage
+ Parking for members and guests
+ Large gas kiln and cone 10 wiring
+ Sprinklering throughout and large fire escapes

The Studios
The sizes of the studios range from 180 to 890 square feet. Most of the studios are 690 square feet, which is the size of an undivided classroom. The entire auditorium (4,000 square feet, plus 1,000 square foot stage) is also available either as a whole or divided into smaller spaces. Studios can be divided into smaller spaces or contiguous studios can be combined.

Rental Rates
All spaces are rented with all utilities included. The rents range from $310 for a half classroom (about 340 square feet) to $725 for the 890 square foot studios. A full sized classroom (690 square feet) rents for $595 a month. A one year lease is required, with one month’s rent in advance. Tenants that use kilns will have an additional firing charge, and any studios that use equipment that uses an unusual amount of electricity will have an additional charge.

Tenants
As of this update (February, 2008), more than two-thirds of the studios are rented. Tenants are a diverse group and are involved in a wide range of media, including painting, jewelry making, recording studio, yoga/movement, ceramics, photography, design, writing, massage, music, and fiber. All tenants are full time artists.

Check out the FAQ section of this website for answers to more detailed questions about the building, the project, leasing, the island and the town.