Artist Cooperative Housing
Cooperative Housing Through the Artist Housing Commons
Artist Space Trust supports artist cooperative housing as one pathway within the Artist Housing Commons. Cooperative housing recognizes that shared living, shared responsibility, and collective decision-making can offer affordability, resilience, and strong community connection for artists.
This page explains what artist cooperative housing can look like through AST, how it works, and how to decide whether it may be the right fit for you.
What Is Artist Cooperative Housing?
Artist cooperative housing is a model in which artists live together and share responsibility for the stewardship of their housing. Cooperative housing prioritizes collaboration, mutual accountability, and long-term stability over individual ownership or short-term tenancy.
Through AST, artist cooperative housing may take different forms depending on the property, funding source, and community involved.
Photo credit: Flee Kieselhorst
Photo credit (clockwise from top left): C Wagner Photography, 2 photos by Flee Kieselhorst
Cooperative Housing Pathways Through AST
Cooperative Homeownership
In some cases, a group of artists may collectively purchase or steward a home or building through a community land trust structure.
In this model:
Artists form a cooperative household or legal entity
The cooperative collectively owns the home or residential units
Artist Space Trust retains ownership of the land
Long-term affordability is preserved through shared agreements and resale restrictions
This pathway is designed for artists interested in collective ownership, shared governance, and long-term commitment to maintaining affordability for future artist households.
Cooperative Rental Housing
Artist cooperatives may also occupy and collectively manage rental housing stewarded by AST.
In this model:
Artist Space Trust retains ownership of the property
Artists collectively manage membership, residency, and internal governanceHousing is structured for long-term affordability and stability
This pathway supports artists who value cooperative living and shared responsibility without pursuing individual or collective homeownership.
Photo credit: Shaun Roberts, Flee Kieselhorst
Is Cooperative Housing Right for You?
Cooperative housing can be deeply rewarding, but it is not the right fit for everyone. It works best when artists enter the process with shared expectations and a willingness to collaborate.
Cooperative housing may be a good fit if you:
Are interested in shared decision-making and collective responsibility
Value long-term stability over individual control
Are open to communication, conflict resolution, and group process
Want to live in community with other artists
Cooperative housing may not be the right fit if you:
Prefer full autonomy over housing decisions
Are seeking short-term or flexible arrangements
Are uncomfortable with shared governance or collective agreements
We encourage artists to reflect honestly on their preferences and capacities before pursuing a cooperative housing opportunity.
Preparing for Cooperative Housing
AST offers a cooperative housing class designed to help artists understand cooperative living, governance structures, and shared stewardship responsibilities.
This class may cover topics such as:
Cooperative models and structures
Shared decision-making and governance
Roles, responsibilities, and agreements
Communication and conflict resolution
Long-term stewardship expectations
Participation in cooperative housing education may be required for some opportunities and is strongly encouraged for artists considering this pathway.
Photo: Artist Johanna Poethig
Important Things to Know
Cooperative housing opportunities are limited and vary by property
Not all housing opportunities support cooperative structures
Eligibility criteria and readiness requirements vary by opportunity
Participation in cooperative education does not guarantee housing placement
Current cooperative housing opportunities, when available, are listed separately.