Heights Arts expands space on Lee Road

Heights Arts has been envisioning an arts center for more than ten years. In the beginning, we imagined converting the former stables on the Severance property into such a facility, but realized that as a new organization we needed to build our own infrastructure rather than rebuild a physical structure. Then, the library offered us space in its newly acquired YMCA, which was slated to be developed into a community art space. As we waited several years for that construction to be approved and finished, we settled into a 900-square-foot storefront near the Cedar Lee Theatre—not exactly what one might envision as an arts center, but it became one as we developed programs that connected our community with its creative residents. When the library space finally became available, we kept our Lee Road gallery and added art classes and workshops at the library.

Next, we actively advocated turning the former Coventry Elementary School into an arts center, but again we were not positioned to take on a major project. Eventually, the library's priorities changed and the one-time art space there became a computer lab. Our classes and workshops were temporarily homeless. But we always kept our eye on that prize of establishing a multidisciplinary art space where artists, musicians, and writers could expand the scope of our community’s access to a broad range of artistic endeavors.  

Last year, a storefront adjacent to the gallery became available. It was our Goldilocks moment: This one is just right!  The space—previously a Starbucks and then a sushi restaurant—provides us with a total of 2,400 square feet that opens to the adjacent public minipark. We began fundraising a year ago with a lead grant from the George Gund Foundation, then signed a lease in October, and started construction in April. More than 350 individuals have made donations to make this renovation happen.

The new space will bring to street level our office (which has been on the second floor of the building) and a new classroom, as well as expanded display and performance space. We’re planning movable walls so that the space is flexible, and we are especially excited that we’ll be able to seat 75 people for concerts and other events.  

Recently, the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture published “Putting Artists on the Map,” a study of Greater Cleveland artists’ locations. We were not surprised that the county’s artist sector is concentrated in Cleveland Heights by a wide margin (17.9 percent of all respondents), because that is why Heights Arts was founded. A dozen years ago, we recognized this city as the epicenter of a rich cultural region.

The summary report further said, “Artist-based community development is more than opening an art gallery or having an artist move into a neighborhood.” Indeed, Heights Arts was founded on the premise that capitalizing on our community’s rich artistic resources would positively impact all aspects of community life: community-building, economic development, education and public spaces.

With our expansion, we are doing just that. This is possible because our community believes what we believe: that the arts simply make life better. 

The gallery’s next show, “Building Below the Radar,” will open Friday, June 10, with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. The show illustrates, through constructions and visual displays, three distinct approaches to architecture in Cleveland today by small, independent architecture firms doing high-quality work: Anthony Paskevich & Associates, Kordalski Architects, and Studio Techne.

To learn about upcoming classes and workshops, shows, concerts, and public art projects, or to make a renovation donation, please visit www.heightsarts.org.