Gosh this place would be AMAZING as an artist space? Kilns, painting rooms, rooms for draughting...maybe when the robot overlords AI us into the woodland, and artists have to return to setting type by hand and using pig bristle brushes, places like this will be just that haha.
That tweed coat made me sad, looks like some hanging in my own closet.
The cubbies are what really stir my 'art space' juices and most likely the white lettering is probably oil paint, it gets into wood and stays, not like pen and acrylic that sit on top of things and peel off.
Such an amazing place this was, I'm also a sucker for a winding spiral metal staircase.
I think you would have a great time in there as artist space! The owners may not like the idea quite so much.