Team Members: John Carnwath
The Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST) is a community-focused real estate organization dedicated to securing and managing affordable spaces, allowing artists and cultural workers to remain rooted in the places where they create. To mark CAST’s first decade of success, the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, a longtime leader in critically examining the needs of artists and how current support structures both succeed and fail in meeting their needs, commissioned WolfBrown in 2023 to interview CAST’s senior staff about the organization’s evolution. The resulting report, “Lessons from 10 Years in Cultural Real Estate,” authored by John Carnwath, highlights five key insights from these interviews that can benefit the broader arts and cultural sector.
The Lessons from 10 Years in Cultural Real Estate report reflects on the experiences and insights gained by the Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST) over its first decade. CAST was established in 2013 to secure affordable spaces for arts and cultural organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, countering the threat of displacement due to rising rents. CAST’s pioneering work with community-based arts organizations has led to several key learnings.
Over the past decade, CAST has pioneered innovative solutions, from cultivating strong community partnerships to balancing the costs of property management with affordable rents. The organization has also developed strategies for accessing low-interest financing and maintaining a stake in properties to ensure they remain dedicated to cultural use. Additionally, CAST recognizes the need to directly support individual artists, as securing organizational spaces doesn’t always address their specific needs. This report not only reflects on CAST’s achievements but also shares valuable lessons and evolving strategies that can inspire and guide similar efforts globally.
These lessons have shaped CAST’s approach and will guide its future efforts to sustain and expand its impact on the arts community. The report has provided CAST with a valuable opportunity to reflect on its growth, share its journey with the community, and offer insights into the lessons learned and ongoing solutions. By doing so, CAST aims to benefit others engaged in similar work around the world.
To read more about the findings, read the online report.