The early years
BAS was incorporated in 1991 and began renting space to artists in a 15,000 sq. ft. space in the Tri-Main Center. Our first gallery opened in 1992 and, in 1993, BAS developed a small board of directors. That same year, a city-wide mural program called Project CREATE (Community Revitalization through Environmental Art and Team Efforts) completed its first mural in Delaware Park.

1994 began with BAS searching for additional space and collaborating with other arts organizations (ArtSPACE) to raise funds.

In 1995, BAS doubled its board and received not-for-profit status. Additional staff (development officer and education coordinator) joined the director, Joanna Angie, in the following years and supported the greatly expanded programming in the new space.

1998 saw the beginning of the Project CREATE Education Program which has since grown to serve more than 300 students, adults, and children, in on-site art courses taught by professional artists. The JumpStart Scholarship Program provides tuition-free arts training to more than fifty students each year.

Moving forward
The year 2001 was Buffalo Arts Studio's tenth anniversary. Heralded propitiously by Joanna Angie's Arts Council Award for arts advocacy, the year was full of special events and collaborative celebrations throughout Buffalo, including a permanent public art project for the Pan-American centennial.

This year BAS will see the beginning of a staff position for planning special events, as well as the continued staff positions of curator, education director, and development officer. Studio tours for school groups have been developed in order to attract new visitors and highlight the wonderful attributes BAS has to offer.