A collaborative project between arte.sana and Rural Tourism Network

Introduction

In 2024, Stacey Burgay opened That Creative Space; a communal art studio in the basement of Beacon Music Factory where anyone can walk in to take a workshop regardless of their skill level or professional background. This is Beacon's newest creative ecosystem and Stacey Burgay's answer to a question she asked herself after two decades in corporate America: What if making art didn't have to be so expensive, so exclusive, or so serious? What if the only barrier to entry was curiosity?

The space operates on a simple premise that's surprisingly radical in today's art world: creative practice shouldn't require an MFA, expensive equipment, or proof of professional status. It should be accessible. Stacey's own journey proves it; she rediscovered her artist identity through a university collage class, then spent years making work in a Queens studio on weekends while holding down a corporate job. Eventually, she became one of the founding members of the New York Collage Ensemble and showed work in Paris and Scotland, all while never quitting her day job.

When she moved to Beacon, she found something was missing: no central place offered regular workshops and classes where anyone, regardless of background, could simply explore their creativity. That Creative Space is filling that gap. Four artists now rent dedicated studio space. Teaching artists lead workshops on everything from botanical ink-making to taxidermy drawing to Chinese calligraphy. Monthly free community events bring people together to make and connect with one another welcoming. And starting in 2026, creative wellness retreats will offer multi-day immersive experiences for working people seeking time and space to reconnect with their creative practice.

Key Points

The Maker: Stacey Burgay, collage artist and founder of That Creative Space, a communal art studio making creative practice accessible to all

The Place: Beacon, NY—90 minutes from NYC by Metro-North train in the Hudson Valley

The Mission: That Creative Space–Affordable shared studio space, diverse workshops, and community events that remove barriers to creative practice

Key Stops:

☕ Kitchen + Coffee (gluten-free bakery, vegan options, local favorite)
🍽️ The Roundhouse (fine dining with waterfall views)
🎨That Creative Space (checkout their workshops)
🥾 Mount Beacon Trail & Denning's Point Trail (challenging hike or gentle riverside walk)

The Maker's Story

The first three times Stacey Burgay lost her job to organizational restructuring, she did what you're supposed to do: polished her resume, networked, found another position managing creative teams for media companies. By the fourth layoff, something had shifted. "While I was putting together my resume, I just found I didn't have the heart to continue doing the same old thing for companies that have no loyalty to you."

She'd been a maker her whole life; ceramics in childhood, film in college, always something. But two decades in project management for television and advertising had turned her into the person coordinating other people's creativity instead of practicing her own. "I was managing creative teams, and there was nothing really creative about my job. Over time, it just started weighing on me."

The path back started unexpectedly. While working at a university, Stacey used her employee tuition waiver to enroll in what the catalog called "Contemporary Mixed Media Fusion," basically, a collage class. "It was a nice return to art making. No scripts, no coordinating shoots, just finding colors and shapes and materials from the streets and assembling them." She'd collect scraps, textures, found objects from New York City streets and subway platforms. "It slowly made me realize, oh yeah, I'm an artist. I forgot that this was who I am."

That reconnection changed everything. She found AlterWork Studio in Queens—a shared workspace where she could work weekends. No dedicated space, just show up, make your work, clean up after yourself, and leave. "I had a place to go on weekends, because that's the only time I had. Paying full month's rent just didn't make sense." Over those weekend sessions, she developed her voice, wrote her artist statement, and began showing work. She founded the New York Collage Ensemble, which led to exhibitions in Paris and Scotland. "Even though I was still working full time in a corporate situation, when I lost my job, it was just, let's give this a shot."

Moving from Astoria to Beacon was meant to be a lifestyle change; more space, less cramped, a creative town. But Stacey quickly saw the contradiction. Beacon had transformed since Dia:Beacon opened in 2003, becoming a magnet for Brooklyn artists, musicians, and makers. Yet studio rents ranged from $650 to $2,200 a month—city prices in a small Hudson Valley town. "That's just not doable for most working artists. I wanted to create a shared space that lowers the cost and opens the door for more people to keep making art."

She also noticed something missing. "There really was no central place like an art center that offered a regular program of classes and workshops. No matter your level of interest or background, you couldn’t just take a class to expand your creativity or explore your curiosity." Beacon had kids' programs, performing arts schools, some nonprofit arts education. But no space where an adult could walk in and try embroidery or botanical ink-making without committing to a full studio membership or academic program.

Stacey used New York State's SEAP program, which allows people receiving unemployment to develop a business plan, to map out That Creative Space. She surveyed her community: Would you use affordable shared studio space? What would you pay? What would you want to learn? Seventy-plus people responded. She recruited teaching artists through an open call, asking people to propose workshop ideas. The criteria was simple: if it's not already happening in Beacon, they could do it. If it was happening elsewhere in town, she scheduled it differently to avoid competition. "If someone's doing hand-pressed flowers because they own a flower shop and that's their craft, I want them to be able to be the space when someone searches for flower arranging classes."

That Creative Space opened in 2024. Four artists rent the dedicated studio room. The open workshop room hosts classes taught by both established instructors and emerging artists getting their first teaching opportunities. Monthly free community events remove even the financial barrier, bringing people together just to make.

The business model is intentionally diversified: studio memberships at different tiers, workshops and classes, community memberships ($35/month for those who just want the connection through potlucks and artist talks), and eventually creative wellness retreats. "For people who work full time but are creative artists, they want time and space to learn something new, practice their craft, and meet others with similar interests." What Stacey built isn't just a studio space. It's a model that challenges how we think about who gets to be an artist.

The Craft Deep-Dive

What makes That Creative Space different isn't just accessibility; it's Stacey's intentional approach to building a creative ecosystem. The space partners with Second Wave Supplies next door, where donated art materials sell for quarters instead of dollars. Teaching artists range from the former director of Garrison Art Center (who teaches classic drawing) to emerging practitioners getting their first teaching gigs. Workshop topics span far beyond fine art: botanical ink-making, taxidermy drawing, herbs for winter blues, Chinese calligraphy, hand quilting with sashiko thread.

Stacey's curation reflects a collaborative rather than competitive mindset. "If someone's doing hand-pressed flowers because they own a flower shop and that's their craft, I want to give them to be able to be the space when someone searches for flower arranging classes," she explains. In a town where "100 things are going on on any given day,” Stacey focuses on what her space offers that's unique: the warm atmosphere where people who enjoy making things can create in the company of others.

The space also offers community memberships for those who don't need studio space but want to connect through monthly potlucks, artist talks, and field trips to exhibitions around the Hudson Valley. It's about building relationships as much as building skills.

In an era when art-making increasingly requires expensive equipment or MFA credentials, That Creative Space preserves something more fundamental: the accessibility of creative practice. The premise is simple; creativity is a human need, not a luxury, and the barrier to entry should be curiosity, not capital. As Stacey puts it: "It's really for anyone who's looking for a creative community, whether they're an adult or a kid or a teen that's looking to find a space where they can feel like themselves."

Visit This Place: About Beacon

Beacon sits on the eastern shore of the Hudson River, where the mountain of the same name rises sharply behind Main Street. Once a factory town dependent on Nabisco manufacturing, it nearly disappeared when the plant closed. Then came Dia:Beacon in 2003—a world-premier contemporary art museum in the former box-printing factory. The museum became a gravitational pull, drawing artists, galleries, and creative souls from Brooklyn and beyond.

Today, Beacon is a vibrant arts community where 90+ restaurants line a mile-long Main Street, where Second Saturday art openings pack the galleries, and where a community calendar tracks everything from Nerd Night to Club Draw artist meetups. As Stacey notes, "There's a gravitational pull for people from Brooklyn—creative people, performers, musicians, artists."

The town has preserved its scrappiness even as property values climbed. That Creative Space embodies this spirit: off the main drag to keep costs down, welcoming to all, focused on access over exclusivity.

Getting There (from NYC: 90 minutes) Metro-North's Hudson Line from Grand Central drops you right in downtown Beacon ($13-20, frequent trains). By car, take the Taconic Parkway or Route 9—the drive offers stunning views, especially during fall foliage.

Where to Stay:

The Dutchess Inn and Spa (Beacon) – Boutique hotel spread across three buildings (Townhouse, Factory, Artist Apartments) offering 25,000+ square feet of accommodations. Rooftop garden with panoramic Hudson views, fire-lit courtyard, and on-site spa. Book directly for specific room selection.

The Roundhouse (Beacon) – Historic elegance in two early-1800s buildings. Every room offers waterfall and creek views. On-site restaurant serves modern American cuisine highlighting Hudson Valley farms and producers.

Cold Spring Hotel (Cold Spring, 15 minutes south) – Intimate 5-star boutique hotel in walkable village with antique shops and riverside parks, perfect for combining both towns in one weekend.

Where to Eat:

Kitchen + Coffee (Beacon) – Located underneath Alchemy Yoga & Spa, this local favorite offers gluten-free baking, extensive vegan/vegetarian options, and house-made English muffins with a devoted following. Open daily 8am-4pm.

Quinn's (Beacon) – Old-school dive bar serving Japanese izakaya food—karaage, ramen, sake—with live jazz or DJ sets. A Beacon institution. Evenings only.

Nansense (Beacon) – Afghan comfort food featuring incredibly moist kabab burgers with meat mixed with onions,

tomatoes, and herbs. Casual counter-service, perfect post-hike.

Dave the Butcher (Beacon) – Owned by the founders of House of Yes in Brooklyn and the Dia: Beacon cantina

Nilfuer's Home Kitchen (Beacon) - which is Turkish place that feels like eating in the owner's kitchen.

Things to Do

In Beacon:

That Creative Space (333 Fishkill Avenue) – Check thatcreativespace.org for workshops ranging from embroidery and botanical ink-making to classic drawing and hand quilting. Monthly pay-what-you-can community events welcome drop-ins. Community memberships ($35/month) include potlucks, artist talks, and field trips.

Dia:Beacon – One of the world's premier contemporary art museums in a former Nabisco factory. Massive galleries with natural light showcase monumental works from the 1960s onward.

Second Wave Supplies (next door to That Creative Space) – Secondhand art supplies selling for quarters instead of typical art store prices. Recently gained TikTok fame.

Savage Wonder (Main Street, downstairs in old bank) – Veteran repertory space with art gallery, wine bar, and intimate venue for poetry and jazz.

Mount Beacon – Challenging hike to fire observation tower with panoramic Hudson Valley views.

Denning's Point Trail (Long Dock Park) – Gentle wooded trail along the Hudson River, perfect for easier nature walks.

Within 15 Minutes:

Cold Spring – Village packed with antique stores, Breakneck Ridge hiking, Magazzino Italian Art museum, and Boscobel House and Gardens. Pairs perfectly with Beacon for a full weekend.

Take It Home

Workshop Opportunities That Creative Space offers one-day workshops, multi-week courses, and pay-what-you-can community events. Programming includes embroidery, botanical ink-making, abstract painting, Chinese calligraphy, taxidermy drawing, classic drawing, hand quilting, and more—designed for both self-identified artists and the "I'm-not-creative" types. Starting 2026, creative wellness retreats will launch for multi-day immersive experiences.

Studio Memberships Shared studio space starts at $250/month with storage and 9am-11pm access. Community memberships ($35/month) offer connection through monthly potlucks, artist talks, and field trips.

Teaching Opportunities - if you're passionate about a particular subject (board game making, botany, natural dyeing etc. TCS accepts proposals for workshops. Email hello@thatcreativespace.org

Learn More

Website: thatcreativespace.org
Instagram: @thatcreativespace
Location: 333 Fishkill Avenue, Beacon, NY

Follow Stacey's Work Stacey creates mixed-media collage from found materials and urban detritus. Co-founder of New York Collage Ensemble (exhibited Paris, Scotland).

Website: staceyburgay.com
Instagram: @staceyburgay

Next issue: Join us as we meet another maker whose craft is deeply rooted in place.

Makers and Places: Stacy Burgay in Beacon, NY