New Business Artavista Studio Encourages Unleashing Your Creativity

Artavista Studio, Altavista Main Street's newest business, will be holding a ribbon cutting event at 521-C Main Street on March 1, 2024. Billing itself as a “place art can roam free,” this new business offers guided art events, private art parties, art camps, and open studio time.

Owner Krystyn Lefler-Kinsel was inspired to start the business after being involved in the art scene in Altavista and the whole Lynchburg region for several years. She has taught art classes both through the library system in the county and in the city and is a regular at Maker Faire Lynchburg. More recently, she attended several Boost Your Business classes at the Spark Innovation Center in town to sharpen her business skills.

“Altavista needs a little more in the way of creative spaces,” says Lefler-Kinsel, adding she wanted to help Altavista residents “find things to do and that are affordable, in town.”

David Green, Executive Director of Altavista's Main Street Program Altavista On Track, is pleased to see another business start-up directly on the main thoroughfare of the town, especially one offering this artistic perspective. "Whenever we visit any vibrant downtown – be it in a city or a small town anywhere – we notice that art is an integral component of a successful community. It’s something that we hope to see more of in Altavista!”

Lefler-Kinsel has been documenting the studio’s makeover on Facebook  and Instagram, sharing her journey of transforming the previous office space into a welcoming and motivating creative environment. Comfortably sized for 16 participants, guests can customize the level of direct instruction or independence they prefer from Artavista Studio. The space is available for homeschool groups, scout groups, and local organizations that need a space for creative classes or field trips.

Her enthusiasm for the work is evident. She enjoys the process of helping people realize their own creative gifts. Whether it’s through painting or crafting or even creative journaling, getting people to be confident that they all have a creative inside, even if it isn’t something they have cultivated before.

“I kind of think of myself as the Ms. Frizzle of the art world,” she says. Artavista Studio are encouraged to follow Ms. Frizzle's advice: "Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!”

Visit ArtavistaStudio.com to view upcoming events. Contact the studio at (434) 515-1032 or artavistastudiospace@gmail.com.

For more information about starting your own business in Campbell County, contact Economic Development at (434) 332-9595 or econdev@co.campbell.va.us.

To learn more about Altavista’s Main Street program, Altavista On Track, visit Altavistaontrack.org and follow them on Facebook.