SUPPORT THE est8
WHY WE NEED SUPPORT
ESTATE OF MIND is an intentional co-living community for artists, and an arts & lifestyle events venue operating out of the historic Oakhurst Manor in Whitinsville, MA—a Victorian manor complex an 25-acre heritage site, with multiple buildings housing artists in residence.
WE RECENTLY HAD TO PAUSE RENOVATIONS which are necessary to modernize & winterize the 133-year-old Oakhurst Manor
YOUR SUPPORT HELPS CREATE A COMMUNITY FOR ARTISTS
Funds raised will be put toward the renovations required to:
House up to 20 more artists inside the historic Oakhurst Manor
Operate as a community arts & lifestyle events venue year round
The Impact
ESTATE OF MIND is a group of artists who are transforming and reclaiming a property once known for its homophobia and abuse into an affordable and accessible center for the arts.
WE ENVISION A FUTURE WHERE WE OFFER:
year-round rotating galleries and installations, with an indoor-and-outdoor canvas for immersive theatre experiences, starting with an annual, ever-growing Halloween haunt. more info at: www.frightinsville.com
an educational arts hub, with free events serving the local community, and workshops designed to help propagate artistic development and inspiration
a world-class arts residency program, with collaborations & co-creations from visiting artists with global origins
scholarships offering food & housing for artists from marginalized groups, helping introduce more diversity and accessibility to our community
a landmark, turnkey venue for queer and bohemian weddings and retreats
a fabrication, carpentry, and metalworking shop
outdoor sculpture gallery with permanent installations throughout our 25 acres
community access to plots in our restored historic gardens
ChALLENGES
We have owned this beautiful, Victorian property since Halloween 2021. In two years we've made a lot of progress, reached a lot of milestones, and learned a lot of lessons. The project has, of course, had some surprises, which have put things behind schedule.
SOME OF OUR SETBACKS HAVE INCLUDED:
THE WRITERS STRIKE > A steady portion of the income funding our monthly expenses was from film and television productions. Since the Writers Guild of America went on strike in May 2023, our high-budget rentals have dried up. The strike seems slated to continue through spring 2024, which puts real strain on us entering winter, which is our the most expensive operating season.
CHALLENGES UNIQUE TO THE OLD PROPERTY > Although we did our due diligence before purchase, there were still surprises. Such as:
PIPES > When we began work on the plumbing, behind the walls we found an undulating, Seussian, labyrinth of pipes and fixtures, fused and Frankensteined from eras and standards spanning 133 years. During the sudden deep freeze of November 2022, in-spite of our preparations, some of the pipes burst, setting us back months in repairs.
TREES > Although many of the trees on the property looked healthy on initial assessment, during heavy winds branches started falling down. Fortunately, there were no injuries, and no damage to the vehicles or structures. Experts taught us how to identify neglected trees, and a team of arborists safely brought down the most dangerous of the dead trees in Spring 2022. This work saved us and the property from potential ruin, but the unexpected cost set back our interior renovation timelines.
TECH INDUSTRY LAYOFFS > Tech companies laid off more than 300,000 employees in the first half of 2023. Digital nomads, who previously accounted for a percentage of our operating costs, have become increasingly sparse. But more critically, our primary funder, who has been covering all monthly budget shortfalls out-of-pocket, was downsized from a tech-industry job this summer, which tied our hands and forced us to lay off our renovations contractors. This has halted almost all renovation progress, as the job search continues.
HOW WE WILL IMMEDIATELY use the funds we raise
We will use the funds raised to complete upgrades that allow us to open new income streams. Once we begin to break even on minimum monthly expenses, any surplus will be put toward continuing to improve our community offerings.
Wrapping up the final repairs & upgrades to the 3rd floor plumbing & radiator systems, giving us the capacity to house up to 20 more artists year round in Oakhurst Manor
Renovating the manor's kitchen(s), so we can be a more attractive venue for hosting weddings, retreats, and large gatherings
Finishing the renovations to the 2nd floor electrical, bathrooms, and guest rooms so we can open up the limited number of B&B rooms allowed by our zoning
Completing some of the electrical upgrades and cosmetic repairs on the first floor, making the event venue an even more compelling location for all sorts of events, workshops, film shoots, and more
Covering the costs of keeping the heat on this winter, so we can operate year round
Insulating the manor to reduce our future heating costs, and reduce our environmental impact and carbon footprint
Those who donate on PayPal are given a choice of where they would like their funds used.
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT US
We understand not everyone is in a position to donate money. If you believe in our project, here are some other ways you can help.
Help us spread the word
Tell people about us, IRL or online. Or pick one of our upcoming events that appeals to you, and share or invite your friends to join you there. Let people know we have an event venue, community space, volunteer opportunities, and that we accept artists in residents. Tell event producers, artists, makers, intentional-community and co-living enthusiasts, or people who love all-things Halloween.
Give us ideas about where we should advertise. We're the new kid in town, so we don't know! Email ideas@est8ofmind.com if you've got suggestions.
Volunteer
Come by every Sunday at 2pm to Volunteer with Victoria (more info on our events page).
Come to our Monthly Planning Meetings, the first Tuesday of every Month from 7-8pm.
DONATE FURNITURE & DECOR
Browse our Pinterest Lookbook to get a sense of the sorts of furnishings and decor we are collecting