In 2009, Studio Two Three was a 400-square-foot room with no windows, no running water and a fridge full of “very bad beer.” Co-founder Ashley Hawkins and three fellow VCU graduates were working as servers and bartenders driven by a singular, stubborn belief: Richmond should be an anchor for artists, not a gateway to somewhere else.
Sixteen years later, that scrappy collective survived everything from tight budgets to an indoor rainstorm. Now, as executive director, Hawkins has helped transition the studio into a 16,000-square-foot permanent creative mecca in Manchester.
What was the original inspiration behind creating a 24/7 communal space, and how has that vision grown?
Studio Two Three began as a dream of four VCUarts’ graduates who had fallen in love with printmaking and its potential to connect artists to each other. At the time, there was no space in Richmond that gave artists 24/7 access to work together. We didn’t want to leave our city, so we decided to build what we needed. Today, we are home to over 150 artists and provide more than 60 organizations and grassroots initiatives with free use of our community event space.
Is there a specific project or moment in the studio’s history that you are most proud of?
Our building purchase was the biggest, riskiest and most rewarding moment in our history. In 2022, a skylight flew off our rented studio, and it rained indoors for hours, destroying artist studios. We realized how critical it was to have our own space, not a rented building dependent on landlords. Buying our own building was a huge leap, but now we have a forever home for Richmond artists.
Your declaration states that “we are all artists, no matter what we make.” How does that philosophy help break down barriers?
Part of the beauty of Studio Two Three is that it is not a prescriptive space. We encourage experimentation and failure as critical parts of the creative process. Our membership model is non-pedantic; we provide the “guardrails” for the studio – guidance on equipment use and shared space norms – but beyond that, folks can decide how they use the space and how much collaboration or interaction they desire.
Why is financial accessibility a non-negotiable part of your mission?
We embrace barter, trade and free memberships for 40%-50% of our members to ensure that no artists who need this space are turned away. Because we started as volunteers with varied work schedules, 24/7 access and trust became foundational to who we are. These elements are fundamental in creating a sense of belonging in our community.
What are the big aspirations for the studio over the next few years?
We plan to continue supporting Richmond artists and ensuring our building is affordable, energy-efficient and sustainable. In 2025, we planted nine new trees and a native pollinator garden. We are preparing to install solar panels in May and a large cistern to collect rainwater for creative reuse. We’re also raising funds to improve our event space infrastructure with new AV and lighting to better support the 30,000 people who walk through our doors annually.
For those who aren’t artists but want to support your mission, what are the best ways to get involved?
Come to an event and support our community partners! We host dozens of free community events each month, including 12-plus workshops each month in screen printing, bookmaking and letterpress that are welcoming to beginners. Finally, donations keep the lights on and the doors open for 150 local artists.
For more information on how to get involved, visit Studio Two Three’s website.
