The Chardon Arts Center’s open house May 18 proved to be an upbeat yet low-key affair, with gradual waves of curious passers-by making their way through the soon-to-be refurbished building throughout the day.
The Chardon Arts Center’s open house May 18 proved to be an upbeat yet low-key affair, with gradual waves of curious passers-by making their way through the soon-to-be refurbished building throughout the day.
Following the dissolution of Thrive Performing and Visual Arts in December, the future of both the historic Geauga Theater and its annex building at 106 Water Street were uncertain. After months of deliberation, the theater was left open to rent for productions, while the annex was awarded to The Fine Arts Association, a Willoughby-based organization that will begin moving into the annex May 31.
The association is using the building to establish The Chardon Arts Center, something Mayor Chris Grau emphasized would not be a satellite operation at the March Chardon City Council meeting, when the decision was originally announced. CEO Paul Holm reiterated this intent during an interview at the open house.
“I’m already talking to people who are reaching out who are interested in teaching music and different things from the community here. We are going to do everything possible to make sure that this is Chardon,” he said. “We’re not here to displace, we’re here to help bring stability.”
Holm emphasized the Geauga community has been involved with the association for a long time.
“We have 80 students that come to Willoughby out of Chardon and Geauga County, and we have three staff that are here today that work for Fine Arts, but live here in Chardon,” he said. “When you look at our summer camps, especially our elementary and the preschool ones, most of the camp staff is from Chardon.”
A sampling of the organization’s vast offerings was represented at the open house. Multiple doors throughout the building sported signs such as “Music Therapy Studio,” reflecting what the rooms will eventually be used for.
Purple-clad FAA members manned tables in the front and back rooms, each offering a different creative endeavor. Interested individuals in the front room could try various musical instruments at a table sporting a violin, flute, saxophone, clarinet and horn.
Creative Arts Therapies Director Ann Marie Raddell was present and could be seen engaging young children in music and rhythm.
“We’ll be doing a lot of early childhood offerings here to start,” she said, explaining the benefits of art exploration at a young age.
Meanwhile, in the back, guests were asked to take part in a public art project, adding to a piece that will one day be displayed in the building’s lobby.
In March, Grau said one concern he consistently heard regarding the city’s decision on the theater was the availability of youth programming.
FAA has stepped in prepared, with registration for youth workshops at the arts center open and ready to be filled. Half- and full-day multi-art camps are currently available for preschool and elementary students; art and theater camps for grades kindergarten through third; and literature and music classes for children ages up to 5 with a parent.
The organization also has plans for programming beyond summer classes.
“We are going to be offering all kinds of classes in visual arts, from creative painting and drawing. We’re going to have some digital things,” Holm said. “I think we have a comic book creation class that’s coming this fall.”
Holm listed musical offerings including piano, voice and guitar lessons.
Other instruments will possibly be taught in the future, Holm said, adding the group is working with the local schools to determine need. Music and art therapy will also be offered.
Theater classes primarily focused on younger children will be starting in the fall, as well as pre-ballet, tap and other early childhood dance classes.
“We’ll see where it goes, to be honest with you,” Holm said of the future of the center’s programming. “We want to do what the community responds to.”
While the group is looking at possibly using the Geauga Theater for productions after Easter next year, at the moment, the focus is more on building arts programming and less on producing mainstage shows, he said.
“What I don’t want to do is take on too much and then burn out,” he said. “We want to start smart and make sure we’re here for a long time.”
Holm emphasized the organization’s goal to not just educate, but also empower through the arts.
“That’s why we have therapies, that’s why we’re trying to figure out – how do we partner with others from the theater. It’s not about us and what we’re trying to drive, it’s about how we drive community,” he said.
Faces familiar to the local arts community will also be seen at the center this summer, with Lisa-Marie French and Karen Porter collaborating on summer classes.
Both were directors and teachers at the now-defunct Geauga Lyric Theater Guild, and both are active in Chardon High School’s theater department, as well as other local arts groups.
French hopes to revive some of her old GLTG-era classes, as well.
“With any luck in the fall, I’m going to be able to go back to Backstage Magic, I’ll be able to teach Theater 101 and 102, all the things I got to teach here under a different heading, I now get to move under this umbrella,” she said. “So I’m super excited.”
French described FAA’s goal as not just building back up the community, but restoring it to how it used to be.
“FAA has really made the commitment to bring the community back to Chardon. They don’t want anybody to think Willoughby-style,” she said. “They want to bring back that GLTG feeling.”
Holm echoed her sentiment.
“As it was, it will be again,” he said.
