The newest update on the historic Charles Towne initiative comes this week from Graycliff Restaurant and Hotel's Paolo Gazaroli and Shannon Bruce, who look forward to unveiling 20 artists' studios housed in a former convent this summer.

A founding member of the Historic Charles Towne Association, Gazaroli has been involved in preserving and restoring the antique sites along West Hill Street in efforts to encourage international visitors and locals to take notice of the city's cultural and historical sites.

Amid a tourism market focused on mega-resorts and water parks, the Historic Charles Towne Association, aims to highlight the older gems often overlooked in the historic heart of Downtown Nassau. Alluding to the city's past, a stroll down any downtown street reveals old, colonial buildings, many of which were former homes.

Formerly known as Charles Towne in honor of the British king, Charles II, Nassau was renamed in 1695 for the prince of the house of Orange-Nassau, King William III.

The Historic Charles Towne district covers the area overlooking Nassau Harbour, up the hill from Cumberland Street and Baillou Hill Road on the eastern side to Nassau Street on the west.

"We are not the U.S., we are not Chinese products downtown. We're not cameras and jewelry and T-shirts," said Gazaroli. "That's not what The Bahamas is about, and when you go to a destination that has a historic part of town, that's the part that most of us go and visit. It's the original part."

Gazaroli estimates the "main" Graycliff building (the part of the compound which houses the restaurant and iconic wine cellar) to have been constructed sometime between 1729 and 1749. The convent, he believes, was originally constructed in the 1890s.

Situated next door to The Heritage Museum of The Bahamas and across the street from Graycliff, the studios are easily identified as one of the colorful renovations dotting West Hill Street. According to Bruce, it's important to the Graycliff team to "take great care in ensuring that we're restoring and revitalizing the original properties because we truly care about the original architecture of the property".

Of course, making sure people take time to enjoy the revamped buildings is all part of the game. Gazaroli believes that supporting the city's architectural ghosts can be one of the tickets the country needs to boosting its economy.

"The problem with Nassau is almost 50 percent of people who come here on cruise ships don't get off the ship. That is so terrible. We have one of the lowest spending [rates] in the Caribbean for two reasons. One, they say they've been there, done that and there's nothing to see. So we're trying to offer something new for them to see," he explained.

It can't be argued that Graycliff hasn't been doing its part in this regard. The compound features a pizzeria, stunning gardens and pool, legendary wine cellar cigar factory and chocolatier. Both the factory and chocolatier offer visitors the chance to make their own products.

According to the hotelier, this "make your own" business model will be continued in his future developments. Sooner than that, though, he envisions a building of 'living' studios, where passersby feel welcome to stop in and have a chat with onsite artists and artisans making everything from wood carvings and glass sculptures to jewelry, ceramic works and paintings.

The studios will be completed this month, and Graycliff is taking applications from artists practicing varied art forms for tenancies now. With 20 studios available at extremely affordable rates in an unbeatable location, Gazaroli anticipates a buzzing cultural hub.

One of the conditions is that the tenants will spend a considerable amount of time onsite to contribute to the center's authenticity. When opened, the venue's courtyard will be available for hire for private events; this, he believes, will only heighten its appeal as a heavily trafficked creative arena.

"One hundred and fifty to 200 people can be there for a cocktail party, and the artists will be in there, and it will be open. They can shop, browse, see the artwork, during the party," he explained.

He added "We're looking to empower the artists that don't have A) a venue, and B) any access directly to the consumer. So what we want to do is give them the opportunity to bridge that gap. If we all make money doing it, that's fantastic."

For more information on the studios or tenancy, contact Shannon Bruce at Graycliff on 302 9181.

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