I have recently been informed of Riverside Industries’ increase in rent within One Cottage Street. I have been practicing martial arts at Heron’s Bridge dojo in Cottage Street Studios for 10 years now, and I will be directly impacted. There is a deeply rooted community that has been cultivated within this space, with many artists visiting from outside cities, states, and even countries. I believe that my practice would not be the same without this welcoming space and environment that has existed for decades. Without creative spaces such as One Cottage Street Studios, community cultivating comes to a screeching standstill. I am a young artist of 20 years, striving to find spaces where art can flourish and be shared with others. Easthampton is a city where art is meant to thrive; one that gained its richness from the inclusion of the arts. I have lived in places where there was a lack of art, and with that deficit of creativity comes an absence of community. When I recall living in a community without art, I can fully understand why I left. I was yearning for something more. If One Cottage Street falls, so does the first domino of a larger impact. With higher rent, there will be a large number of artists leaving, which will reduce economic stimulation. Riverside Industries must understand the impact that artists have within the community, the richness they bring, and how without them, there will be a great loss of vitality in Easthampton.

Isabelle Casavant

Northampton