By Jack Hernandez and Madelyn Siner
In the eyes of the community, The Warehouse Arts District in St. Petersburg has been a key part of the city’s cultural fabric. Known for its repurposed industrial spaces, the district has provided artists with places to work and opportunities to thrive. However, as property values rise and redevelopment changes the area, local artists are facing new challenges that could impact their ability to continue working in the district.
Artists and organizations are responding with efforts to maintain the district’s creative focus while adapting to ongoing changes. From securing affordable studio spaces to increasing public awareness, these efforts reflect broader discussions about how to preserve the cultural identity of growing cities.
One artist navigating these challenges is Juan Alonso-Rodriguez, who moved to St. Petersburg in 2022. With decades of experience in the art world, Alonso-Rodriguez provides a firsthand perspective on how the changing district is affecting its artists.
Surrounded by minimalist contemporary works in his studio, Alonso-Rodriguez reflected on his journey as an artist. His clean, geometric designs and use of bold colors convey a simplicity that belies the thought and emotion behind each piece, he said.
Born in Cuba and raised in Miami, Alonso-Rodriguez began his career in San Francisco, California, before spending 40 years in Seattle, Washington, where his work gained recognition in galleries and public spaces.
“In Seattle, I was able to grow because there were opportunities to show my work and support systems like public funding for the arts,” he said. “It made a big difference for my career and the art community overall.”
When Alonso-Rodriguez moved to St. Petersburg in 2022, he was drawn to the Warehouse Arts District for its reputation as a creative hub, he said.
While he said he appreciates the district’s collaborative spirit, he noted that the lack of large-scale galleries and rising costs can make it challenging for artists to thrive in the area.
Like many artists in the district, Alonso-Rodriguez faces increasing expenses. His studio lease includes a 3% annual rent increase—a manageable amount for him, but a potential barrier for others.
“I’m lucky because I have galleries in other cities that sell my work,” Alonso-Rodriguez said. “But for artists just starting out, it’s tough to afford the cost of working here.”
He also observed differences in public funding for the arts between Florida and Washington. Programs like Seattle’s Percent for Art initiative, which allocates a portion of public construction budgets to art, provided critical support for the local art scene.
“Public funding helps artists and enhances the city as a whole,” Alonso-Rodriguez said. “It encourages developers to include art in their projects, which benefits everyone.”
Despite these challenges, Alonso-Rodriguez said he values work spaces like the ones provided by ArtsXchange, a project led by the Warehouse Arts District Association that offers affordable studios and collaborative opportunities.
“Spaces like this help artists stay in the area,” he said. “They’re essential for keeping the district creative, even as the city grows.”
He also stressed the importance of community involvement, encouraging artists to advocate for policies that support the arts.
“Engaging with city officials and educating the public about the benefits of art can make a big difference,” he said. “Art isn’t just something extra, it’s an important part of the city’s identity and economy.”
The Duncan McClellan Gallery is a local glass gallery that features rotating exhibitions from national and international artists. Irene McClellan is the manager of the gallery and the wife of the creator, Duncan McClellan.
“St. Petersburg is an arts destination,” Irene McClellan said. “We have people come in from all over the world for the arts. We represent artists from all over the world and we have their artwork here, but the rents are going up through the roof.”
Susan Antoinette, a local abstract and mixed media artist, has been with ArtsXchange since their grand opening in 2017 and in the Warehouse Arts District since 2015.
“We had purposely moved to St. Pete for its art community,” Antoinette said. “It was really exciting to be a part of a grassroots organization for artists. I really wanted to find a community of other artists to be able to collaborate with and to be inspired by, and St. Pete definitely offers me that.”
WADA offers Antoniette an affordable space to create her art through ArtsXchange, she said. She has also been on the project’s membership committee, events committee and education committee, and she later joined the board as chair for WADA.
“I feel very fortunate to have a studio at the ArtsXchange,” Antoniette said.
WADA’s mission is to offer affordable and sustainable studio space for artists and support the local art community. According to Antoniette, there are no other art spaces nearby that are “even comparable by price.”
However, as the city of St. Petersburg continues to grow, rent prices in the Warehouse Arts District have risen, making the space less accessible to local artists.
“The city of St. Pete has been coining St. Pete as the city of arts and culture, but the money has not showed up,” Antoniette said. “It’s not getting back to the artists. There are a lot of great wonderful things in St. Pete that could continue if we had the support from the government.”