Information Packet Version 1.0
This is a first draft of the information packet for the Bratcher Artist House. Most of these things are subject to change in the future depending on how things go. Give it the once over, and let us know if you have any questions or comments!
Capitol Hill Artist House
Information Packet
Edition 1.0
Cole and Luz Bratcher
Established 2011
General Information
What is the Artist House?
The artist house will be a home intended to empower artists through fostering community and hospitality within our home and neighborhood.
Who is involved in the Artist House?
We (Cole and Luz Bratcher) will be the caretakers and leaders of this house. Our mission is to invest in the artists living there, helping them to mature in their craft and as people. We will not only provide the artists with housing, food and community, but we desire to challenge them to look beyond their craftsmanship and create art that enriches more than just the artist. Support comes primarily from the members of Mars Hill Church in this mission, who are instrumental in providing financial support and service to launch and maintain the Artist House.
Why is the Artist House being created?
There are many reasons that the Artist House is being formed. We believe that God calls us as Christians to be engaged with the culture and serve the community with honest and humble hearts. This house is an opportunity to offer support to artists and give them a strong footing to establish their artistic careers. Ultimately we want to reflect the love of Christ by showing that love to Seattle artists. (Note: If you are not a Christian and are worried that we are going to cram the gospel down your throats, fear not! You will not be expected to do anything religious. See the section below under Expectations for Residents.)
Where is the Artist House?
A suitable home has not yet been found for the artist house, but we are confident God will deliver one at the right time in Capitol Hill. We feel this is the perfect strategic location for this project due to the large amount of artists and art students who live and create in the area. We are looking for a starter home that has between 5-6 bedrooms, including a large master bedroom or mother-in-law suite for the caretakers, a full size kitchen, large dining and living rooms for social gatherings, enough bathrooms to go around, a laundry room and plenty of street parking. Ideally this house would also be walking distance from Kerry Hall (a Cornish College of the Arts building in North Capitol Hill), have a large porch and yard for summer events, and would allow cats. If you know of anyone who has a house that may be interested in supporting this project, please let us know.
How will the Artist House be funded?
The Artist House is meant to be a service for the residents who live there, so we want to keep the cost of living there as low as possible. Ideally residents will not have to pay more than $500 per month for a single room, and a room may be split between two roommates (of the same gender) if both residents are willing so as to reduce the cost of living. The exact cost of the rooms will be determined when a suitable location is found. As a couple, we can support up to $900 per month in living costs, but in order to make the Artist House as effective as possible, we will need to raise funds from other sources. We hope to find investors big and small to commit to donate to the project monthly, and to put that money towards a fund for rent and emergency reserves. We want to start by collecting donations from interested parties and churches and hope to turn this project into a certified non-profit in the future. This will be a lifelong project for the Bratchers and hopefully by the grace of God, continue to grow and offer more services to the students and community surrounding.
Art House Directives
Housing for Artists
The primary directive for the house is to be a place where artists can live in community with other artists. It is a safe place where artists will intentionally be building relationships with one another to not only enrich their art and lives, but to enrich the art and lives of the other residents, as well as the community.
Meeting Place for Community Groups
Much of the support for the artist house is going to come from Mars Hill, so it seems fitting that the artist house would be a location for godly community. Cole is currently undergoing the apprenticeship program at the downtown campus, intending to start a new community group, launching as soon as the house is established. There is a strong possibility that the group will join an upcoming church plant in Capitol Hill in 2012-2013. For the time being the group will be under the umbrella of Mars Hill Church.
Community Gallery & Music Venue
We want to support artists in the community in as many ways as possible and one additional way is to use the house as a gallery and venue for local artists and musicians. We plan on having a selection of art donated to the house by residents and friends permanently on display at the house in hallways, bathrooms, social areas and so on. We also will host special art exhibitions for local artists, and house shows or recitals for local musicians.
Information for Residents
Expectations for Caretakers
The house will launch with two starting caretakers. (Cole and Luz Bratcher) As the house grows and develops, we plan on adding more workers to help shoulder the burden of leading the house and serving the artists. These are some of the things you should be expecting of us:
- To be professing Christians and actively involved and accountable to a local church.
- To be on mission, devoting time, effort and prayer to what God has called them to do at the house.
- To be passionate about art and about leading artists to Christ.
- To be kind and loving to the residents of the house.
- Be willing to serve residents even when it is inconvenient.
(Examples: Driving significant others home at any hour of the night, dropping everything to comfort or help a resident in a time of crisis, etc.)
- Liaison between property owners and tenants
(housing applications, paying rent and utilities, etc.)
- Plan events and weekly dinners for residents
- Manage Chore Schedule
- Enforce house rules
- Mediate disputes among residents
- Seek outside financial and practical support for the house
(Note: The caretakers of the house are also residents of the house, so the “Expectations for Residents” applies to the caretakers as well.)
Expectations for Residents
The artist house is indeed a mission, but not exclusive to those who profess Christianity. Here is a list of what will be expected and what is NOT expected of those who live at the house.
We DO expect residents to participate in the practical tasks involved with living in community:
- Observing all of the house rules (see Rules)
- Attending weekly house meals and attempt to attend other community events
- Committing to build friendships and community with other residents
- Committing to at least one year of residence
- Cleaning up after themselves
- Demonstrating kindness and civility to other residents
- Respecting the privacy of other residents
- Observing quiet hours
- Doing the chores assigned to them
(these are limited, see Chores)
We do NOT expect residents:
- to be or become Christians if they are not already
- to attend church with us or with anyone else
- to attend the community group hosted at the house or any other CG
(Note: While not all who live with us will hold to Christianity, it doesn’t exclude the presence of our faith. We’re starting this house in order to build a safe place discuss ideas and beliefs, which means the caretakers and other residents will talk about Jesus from time to time during formal meals and other hangouts. This is simply because we believe Jesus is extremely important and we kinda like the guy. We will speak passionately about the gospel, but we will not get angry if you don’t receive it.)
House Rules
While we do value the input of the residents, this house is not a commune, and there will be certain rules that must be followed by the residents and those who come to visit. Excessive violation of any of these rules will be grounds for eviction.
- There will be no use of any illegal substances of any kind on the premises
- Alcohol must not be consumed by minors on the premises
- You may smoke legal substances on the porch, but not inside the house
- No firearms or other lethal weapons are allowed on the premises
- Quiet hours start at 10pm you may stay up, but you need to be quiet so other residents can sleep peacefully
- Pets may be negotiable depending on the house we end up in, please clear it with the house caretakers first
- Residents are expected to perform the chores assigned to them on time in the correct way without complaining
- No sexual intercourse on the premises unless you are married
- Significant others may come over to hang out, but they may not spend the night unless they are on a couch or in the guest room AND they have received permission from the house caretakers at least 24 prior to their stay (Note: Caretakers will be willing to drive significant others home no matter how late it is)
- Males and Females may not be in a room alone together unless the door is wide open.
(Note: These last three rules may seem harsh to some and that we are babying the residents. This is not the intention behind these rules. These rules are meant to protect all of the residents in the household, to help the residents be above reproach and to keep the house a safe place free from unnecessary tension including sexual temptation, romantic drama, and devastating heartbreak. These rules are to keep residents and their partners accountable for what they do while in the artist house as well to respect the values of others who are living there.)
Chores
There will be weekly chores assigned to each resident to keep the house clean, tidy, and hospitable for residents and visitors. The chores assigned are to “pick up the slack” of what gets missed in everyday life. We will expect residents to clean up after themselves so that when chore time comes, it will hopefully be a quick and easy task. We do not expect chores to take up more than 1-2 hours per week for each resident. Weekly chores may include the following:
- Sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming
- Washing windows and mirrors
- Cooking Duty
- Cleaning bathrooms
- Cleaning the kitchen
- Yardwork/Gardening
- Dusting
- Laundry Duty
(Note: Tasks such as washing dishes and taking out garbage will be completed as needed by whoever can do it so the house stays tidy at all times.)
