Finding spaces for artists to make & display their work in New York City is nearly impossible, and spaces created by artists for artists are even rarer. On October 11th, HERE Studio in East Williamsburg marked its first anniversary with "An Exhibit Featuring Women in the Arts," transforming three floors into a gallery exhibition space, with rooftop DJ sets by BIG TATI, HOODBABYBLUE, and aida.
Emily Nemeth, HERE's independent owner and photographer, is dedicated to storytelling and elevating women creatives. In this interview, she shares with Basta what this space means for both herself and NYC's creative community.
Basta: Congrats on one year of HERE, I was impressed by the interactive art exhibition at the event. Could you share how the exhibition came about, how you discovered the featured artists, and why this medium felt like the right way to celebrate?
Here: The exhibition came about super organically. We knew we wanted to celebrate other artists for our 1 year event as we really value the community we are building. We wanted to curate an experience but really wanted to celebrate all kinds of artists doing different things on different levels and we felt that specifically highlighting women, as a women-owned business would make it even more special.
B: Do you have a memorable moment from the past year that embodies what HERE is all about?
H: I think our one year anniversary event was one of the biggest moments for me. As you can imagine our first year came with many challenges and learning experiences. It was nice to look around and see our whole year in one room. All the people we’ve met and new friends we are making. It was super special and I hope that at the end of year two will resonate with a similar feeling.
B: If any show or film from the 90s or 2000s based in NYC had a rooftop party at HERE, what would it be?
H: I could definitely see “10 things I Hate About You” having a scene on our rooftop or even if they just had a cast party it would make for a killer guest list.
B: You published a coffee table book 'Bathroom Saga' and you have a background in photography. How has your background in photography influenced the way you run HERE?
H: Having a background in Photography has definitely helped me understand the needs of those who are interested in booking our space. I think it has given me greater insight but the production industry is so dense, I am still always brainstorming ways to stay competitive and improve our space.
B: You’ve emphasized celebrating women and non-cis male identifying creatives. Can you elaborate on why this mission is so important to you and HERE, and how you’ve uplifted these individuals thus far?
H: We really value celebrating other creatives as a whole and felt like it would be a special event to highlight women specifically as HERE is a women owned business. We really hope that our event uplifted other creatives to see that their work, no matter how big or small the project, can and should be celebrated at large.
B: How has your vision for HERE evolved since you first opened a year ago?
H: We have evolved so much in our first year of being HERE! Just like any other small business ~ we have tried a lot of things that have worked and a lot of things that don’t work. Ultimately, our vision hasn’t changed much as we are still making strides to empower and equip creatives.
B: Can you share some insights into your plans for HERE's future? Are there any new initiatives or types of events you're excited to explore?
H: We are hoping to further expand our first floor production studio this year opening up our space to be over 2,000 sq ft on the first floor with two commercial roll up doors that are accessible from the exterior. We also have plans to install a new cyc wall allowing for more of an open production space for larger productions all on the first level.
B: What is HERE?
H: Located in East Williamsburg, HERE Studio is a Production Studio & Event Space. Built out over three floors our space collectively over 5,000 sq ft. HERE we host a safe and inclusive environment where creative excellence can be celebrated at large. Whether you are a photographer, videographer, influencer, entrepreneur, artist, business owner or just someone with a really good idea. Our space was thought up for you.
Check HERE out here: https://herestudionyc.com/
Photographs by: Cat Marchenko
Interview by Katie Kern