Over 1500 artists have been in residenced at Millay. In September 1997 the Millay Colony for the Arts will open a new facility that will provide a fully accessible work and living environment to artists with and without disabilities. Every aspect of the 3,200 square foot facility, simply called The Main Building, incorporates principles of universal design. It is the first structure of its kind at an artist colony and is the result of a unique collaboration between Millay, artists, architects, designers, funders, and corporate partners. To insure that the building would be responsive to all artists, the distinguished visual artist Michael Singer was invited to lead the design project along with an advisory panel of artists with disabilities that included the writer Kenny Fries, filmmaker Sharon Greytak, poet Raymond Luczak, visual artist Scott Nelson, writer, Peter Slatin, and painter Charles Strouchler.
Artists change and how artists make art changes.
Part of what makes this project exciting is that we designed flexibility into the facility so that it can change over the years in response to people's needs. It would be accurate to say that if we do this project correctly it will never be finished. It is particularly important that potential users be involved. There is a need for new materials to facilitate discussions of design issues. In certain areas there is a need for flexible design solutions because different disabilities require different solutions.