Gallery owner, painter bringing artist studio spaces to downtown Beaufort

Ken Hawkins/TheDigitel
Lana Hefner, right, enthusiastically shows open spaces in the second-floor artist studios.

Beaufort artist and owner of Bay St Gallery, Lana Hefner sees anĀ  opportunity for the arts in one of her underutilized properties on Carteret Street.

Number 208 sits next to Wren Bistro, and across the street from Breakwater Restaurant and Bar in the heart of Beaufort's upcoming Carteret district -- which is just a stones throw from a half-dozen art galleries.

And Hefner thinks that location makes it the perfect space for a shared artists space to create, teach, and show their work. Look for the sign going up that will read ArtLofts.

"We're very interested in keeping the arts scene vibrant," says Hefner. "Right now there's no other space like this in downtown."

The 2,500-square-foot space on the second floor is a brightly lit combination of hardwood floors, exposed brick walls and bright white painted drywall.

Artists will be able to rent studio spaces of about 120 to 150 square feet for monthly rentals in the $3-400 range or wall space to show their work (and sell it with what Hefner says are some of the lowest commissions to be found.) Both open and private spots are offered with access to shared space, restrooms, and a full kitchen.

"It's a wonderful space and it's going to be a lot of fun to be with other artists. If things go well, we have a couple other spaces in downtown that could also work for studios, and one in Charleston, too."

If you'd like to learn more about ArtLofts you can reach Hefner at (843) 522-9210 or e-mail hefnerstudio@earthlink.net

98 A partially occupied private studio space.

101 Access to the space is on 24-hour basis off the side of Carteret Street.