Can we create a Co-Constructed Community Art Studio?

This semester I am currently working with a small group of students, who we are calling Young Artpreneurs, to see if we can establish an Artist In Residence (AIR) program at our school. We have looked at the Room13 model (see http://room13international.org/) and this has been a huge inspiration. Our program would run a little differently in that the Artist in Residence would run a shared community artspace or studio (i.e. our Visual Arts building see pictures below) during the evening, once or twice per week, where our community members would pay a small fee for using the space per night, recieve help or take specific workshops run by the resident Artist, and this money could be used to help fund the AIR program going forward.

Once the community studio space is running we might be able to expand it to provide services for the firing of ceramic works or pottery. Or to expand the range of Studio spaces e.g. we have a lighting studio for Photography. The aim right now though is to start small and see it the idea is viable.

So here is what we have discussed so far:

The name - Originally the concept was 'Studio 23' but students have found out that name has been taken. We are currently contemplating running a 'naming' competition to promote the concept of the studio and come up with a name. Currently looking at sourcing prizes etc. students running competition on Social Media.

Money - crowd funding has been suggested, so has creating a Facebook Page for promotion etc. At this stage we will be holding a market day where artworks can be sold and students are thinking about how the whole project may fit together e.g. will there be street art competitions where works could be sold after the event, and what sponsorship or community support could they arrange etc.

All ideas are in there infancy and are part of the Semester 2 Community Projects that all students at Gungahlin complete as part of their school assessment. The students would love your ideas and suggestions if you would like to contribute.