Art Central Foundation’s roots growing

MIDDLETOWN —

The Art Central Foundation is planting its roots even further into downtown Middletown a year after the organization took ownership of the building it once rented.

Two state grants — one from the state and one from the Ohio Arts Council — are enabling the arts organization to grow its footprint around the city and expand its student base for arts workshops.

“Everything is really set up for the creation of art,” said Sue Wittman, president of the Art Central Foundation. “We’ve been able to design it that way instead of a blank, empty room.”

A blank, empty room is what the Art Central Foundation had in the building during is summer arts classes last year. They took ownership of the building in May 2013 and a few weeks later had students creating art.

The Art Central Foundation first occupied space in the building in 2008 but moved out when the city took ownership in an attempt to court Cincinnati State Technical & Community College. They were out of the building for about 18 months before they took ownership.

With the second floor of the three-story building finished, except for a functioning elevator, they are concentrating on finishing the third floor — which mostly needs cosmetic upgrades — where they have a stage for theater performances. They can use the third floor of the building, which is where the building’s stage is located, but it does need cosmetic repairs.

State Rep. Tim Derickson, R-Hanover Twp., had worked with the arts organization, including writing letters of support to the city encouraging they donate the building the foundation. He also put in the most recent state budget to allocate $37,500 to help pay for a new elevator.

“(The new elevator) will allow us to expand our programming to kids with developmental disabilities that can’t make it up our steps right now,” Wittman said. “And it will help us to become more self-sustaining.”

Derickson said it’s “exciting” to see Art Central Foundation activity back on North Main Street. For two years the organization was given space building space on Vail Avenue owned by Roger Connor, who owns Flowers by Roger on Manchester Avenue.

“The facility is being rejuvenated by faithful volunteers, providing a creative atmosphere for all the students taking summer classes,” said Derickson.

He said his assistance will help the foundation and its staff to better serve the community.

Art Central Foundation also received $2,800 from the Ohio Arts Council for a mural project on the Cincinnati State building that used to house the county Job and Family Services that served the city. Wittman said the money was three-fourths of what they requested, and never received this large of a percentage of the ask. In the past, Wittman said the Ohio Arts Council had awarded around 10 percent of their requests.

The foundation will also be able to help the local economy with two first-floor rentals across from Cincinnati State Middletown’s campus — and potentially next door as the college also owns the empty First National Bank building at Central Avenue and North Main Street.

While the arts classes and the ability to rent its third floor for events, the first floor space will help “pay the bills,” Wittman said. One of the two spaces, she said, would be ideally suited for something in the food service industry that’s “affordable and quick” for Cincinnati State students.

The other half, Wittman said, is suited for retail, office or some other business.