The Bronx is known for being the birthplace of hip hop, the graffiti movement, and the home of many arts and culture institutions. The influence art has had on the borough is a huge part of tourism – but it is also a significant force in backing economic development...as visitors from Belfast found out recently.
The Bronx Economic Development Corporation, a non-profit in The Bronx that distributes small business loans, works closely with the Bronx Kreate Hub, a coworking space for artists, makers, and entrepreneurs. The Hub has four floors of studios where members can work on their craft, run a business and more. Members include tattoo artists, estheticians (skincare professionals to you and me), portrait artists, and other creatives who rent a studio inside the 24-hour building instead of facing the pressure of finding and qualifying for their own space.
When Clare Guinness and Lisa Comerton of the Belfast Chamber of Commerce reached out to us to find unique examples of economic development in The Bronx during a recent visit to the Big Apple for the annual New York-New Belfast Conference, Kreate Hub was their first stop. As they discovered, The Bronx has a rich artistic history and the Kreate Hub has given artists access to boundless opportunity.
During their whirlwind tour, they met with artists who spoke about their experience renting at the Kreate Hub and how they have benefited from renting a space where they can focus on their work and network with other artists.
Alma Basanta, the property manager, also coordinates events for their members to mingle. One artist, who works with textiles, told us about how he often works with another Kreate Hub member who screenprints clothing. Another pair of artists who publish the magazine Nueva Luz showed us the photography display they put up in the hallway for viewing.
During the tour, Guinness noted that the city of Belfast has a lot of artists, but not necessarily a community-commercial hub for them to connect. Alma and I spoke about how we see firsthand that it is worth investing in the arts. The Kreate Hub location in The Bronx has proven to be beneficial since it opened in 2019 – so much so that they expanded to Philadelphia and Nashville. It makes me wonder how a coworking space for artists could impact economic development in Belfast.
Belfast has a thriving art sector – there are scores of murals in the city, including the famous portrait of Bobby Sands on Falls Road. The city is home to the Belfast International Arts Festival — which draws thousands each year, including tourists — not to mention the many galleries, theatres, and museums. The city is already witnessing the economic benefits of art. I look forward to seeing how Guiness and Comerton’s visit to the Kreate Hub influences that renaissance even further.
Bronx Beat is back! The latest edition focuses on Kreate Hub Bronx, which empowers artists & fosters a culture of innovation & artistic expression in its community. Check out this preview, then visit The @gothamsports App to watch the full episode: https://t.co/sWMqNZ0hci pic.twitter.com/hnxq3pkjdQ
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 18, 2025
Jilleen Barrett is Director of Communications and Marketing at Bronx Economic Development Corporation. You can find out more about the Corp at their website or on Instagram.
