Author: Educational Facilities Laboratories

Publication Year: 1980

Media Type: Report

Summary:

This is an advocacy report, to encourage the reuse of surplus public schools - and under-used sections of operating schools - for the arts. We point out the advantages of surplus school space and arts arrangements to both the public schools and to arts organizations and artists. We cite case examples in a variety of communities, demonstrating a range of spatial, financial, programmatic and governance arrangements, and a broad spectrum of arts uses. Finally we conclude by a review of some of the lessons derived from the case studies that can serve as guidelines in carrying out similar projects in other communities.

CONTENTS
Context: Enrollment decline and surplus schools.
Enter the arts.
Perfect harmony, but not always.
Flexible arrangements.
Quick response.
Who can be against the arts?
Good space, easily adapted.
Arts and education.
The school and the community.
Though no longer a school, still a public use.
Sometimes disharmony.
Let's get the most money for the school we can.
Zoning, parking, occupancy restrictions.
The cost of changing occupancy.
The arts are financially risky.

Case Studies: 
     A museum grows in a school.
     Library saves a school and spawns a cultural center.
     Twenty year search for county arts home leads to high school.
     Town meeting selects arts reuse.
     Headquarters for county-wide arts service agencies.
     Arts Center of Spartanburg County, South Carolina.
     Studios for working artists.
     Project Studio One, New York City.
     Arlington Arts Center, Virginia.
     Subsidized studio space in return for community service.
     Noyes Cultural Arts Center, Evanston, Illinois.
     Neighborhood Arts Center, Atlanta, Georgia.
     School 33 Art Center, Baltimore, Maryland.

Artists Cooperative Downtown.
     McCuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, Virginia.
     An Industrial Park of Small Arts Businesses.
     Forest Avenue Consortium, Atlanta, Georgia.
     Arts as one component of Community Centers.
     Yorktown Community and Cultural Center, New York.
     The 122 Community Center, New York City.
     Old Nine, Brooklyn, New York.
     Park District Arts Programs.
     School District Initiative in Arts Reuse.
     Eliot Center for the Arts St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
     Home for Community Theatre.
     Pittsfield Theatre Guild, Illinois.
     Independent Schools.
     Pasadena Art Workshop, California.
     College Artists Collaborative and Public Schools, Jackson School Art Center,
     Washington, DC.

Professional Theatre companies involved with communities.
     Auburn Civic Theatre, New York. Performing Arts Foundation of Long Island,
     New York.

Guidelines:
     Share space intelligently.
     Be flexible about leases and other use agreements.
     Consider how you can contribute to the educational program of the school or to the
     community.
     Invest funds in upgrading the building.
     Beware of the costs of old buildings.
     Obtain professional help.
     Research ownership, zoning, legal and regulatory issues.
     Take the initiative.
     Take the time to plan carefully.

Abstract:

This is an advocacy report, to encourage the reuse of surplus public schools - and under-used sections of operating schools - for the arts. We point out the advantages of surplus school space and arts arrangements to both the public schools and to arts organizations and artists. We cite case examples in a variety of communities, demonstrating a range of spatial, financial, programmatic and governance arrangements, and a broad spectrum of arts uses. Finally we conclude by a review of some of the lessons derived from the case studies that can serve as guidelines in carrying out similar projects in other communities.

CONTENTS
Context: Enrollment decline and surplus schools.
Enter the arts.
Perfect harmony, but not always.
Flexible arrangements.
Quick response.
Who can be against the arts?
Good space, easily adapted.
Arts and education.
The school and the community.
Though no longer a school, still a public use.
Sometimes disharmony.
Let's get the most money for the school we can.
Zoning, parking, occupancy restrictions.
The cost of changing occupancy.
The arts are financially risky.

Case Studies: 
     A museum grows in a school.
     Library saves a school and spawns a cultural center.
     Twenty year search for county arts home leads to high school.
     Town meeting selects arts reuse.
     Headquarters for county-wide arts service agencies.
     Arts Center of Spartanburg County, South Carolina.
     Studios for working artists.
     Project Studio One, New York City.
     Arlington Arts Center, Virginia.
     Subsidized studio space in return for community service.
     Noyes Cultural Arts Center, Evanston, Illinois.
     Neighborhood Arts Center, Atlanta, Georgia.
     School 33 Art Center, Baltimore, Maryland.

Artists Cooperative Downtown.
     McCuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, Virginia.
     An Industrial Park of Small Arts Businesses.
     Forest Avenue Consortium, Atlanta, Georgia.
     Arts as one component of Community Centers.
     Yorktown Community and Cultural Center, New York.
     The 122 Community Center, New York City.
     Old Nine, Brooklyn, New York.
     Park District Arts Programs.
     School District Initiative in Arts Reuse.
     Eliot Center for the Arts St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
     Home for Community Theatre.
     Pittsfield Theatre Guild, Illinois.
     Independent Schools.
     Pasadena Art Workshop, California.
     College Artists Collaborative and Public Schools, Jackson School Art Center,
     Washington, DC.

Professional Theatre companies involved with communities.
     Auburn Civic Theatre, New York. Performing Arts Foundation of Long Island,
     New York.

Guidelines:
     Share space intelligently.
     Be flexible about leases and other use agreements.
     Consider how you can contribute to the educational program of the school or to the
     community.
     Invest funds in upgrading the building.
     Beware of the costs of old buildings.
     Obtain professional help.
     Research ownership, zoning, legal and regulatory issues.
     Take the initiative.
     Take the time to plan carefully.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Cultural Facilities, Arts Education