FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What will the Red Brick Center for the Arts offer?

We plan to create a dynamic center of arts education that provides classes and programming for people of all ages in music, dance, visual art and theatre. In addition, the center will produce two or three special arts events each year.

Music, dance and visual art will be immediate and primary offerings. Theatre education and programming will eventually be offered as is needed to fill gaps in the offerings of other organizations. Also, we plan to encourage area residents to participate in theatre education and programming offered by other organizations.

The center will house visual art facilities, including exhibition spaces, general purpose art classrooms and a ceramics studio. Music facilities will include private lesson studios, equipment storage, and the use of multi-purpose classrooms for group instruction. A large dance studio and smaller dance/music room will also be created.

There will be multiple exhibition spaces in the center. One space will be designated for the use of major exhibitions that will rotate every 6 weeks, and often, will be guest curated. Artwork will also be displayed in locked cases and on walls throughout the facility. Artwork by center members, students and local artists will be continually on display, and will be rotated.

Click here to view an architectural illustration of how the “Red Brick” will be renovated for use as an arts Center.

Why will theatre not be a primary offering?

There’s already a large amount of theatre education offered in the Westshore area by organizations such as Clague Playhouse, Huntington Playhouse and the Beck Center for the Cultural Arts, as well as by private and public schools - in the form of extra-curricular drama clubs. Our goal is not to supplant the programming and theatre education provided by these organizations, but to coordinate with them in order to:

1. broaden their audience and student bases

2. ensure that all available of their theatre education programs are well advertised and made available to all Westlake residents and arts center patrons/students

3. provide “gap” or niche programming and education, such as:

a. classes offered when not otherwise available in the area

b. technical support & “stage craft” training and education

c. rehearsal spaces offered to smaller theatre related groups

d. alternate performance classes not otherwise offered in the area

Will the RBCA be only for Westlake residents, or will anyone be welcome there?

Everyone will be welcomed to the Red Brick Center for the Arts. There will not be special rates for Westlake residence. Memberships will be available to all, offering benefits that include discounted class fees, special preview nights for some exhibitions, special events and discounts on art purchases.

When will it open?

The “Red Brick” first opened in 1909 as an elementary school. Our goal is to re-open the building in its centennial year – 2009 (hopefully in the fall) – depending on funding. We anticipate it will take approximately 18 to 24 months to raise the necessary funds to begin renovation.

Where is the “Red Brick”?

The “Red Brick” is located in the geographic center of the city, in close proximity to schools, residential areas, and city buildings - at 2260 Dover Center Road (on the west side of the street, between Hilliard Boulevard and Center Ridge Road). The Red Brick Building sits on a campus-like site, sharing land with Dover Elementary School and Lee Burneson Middle School, offering the potential for RBCA to provide educational space and programming to these schools and Westlake High School, which is just around the corner on Hilliard Boulevard.

The central location of the Red Brick Building will provide for a convenient, highly visible art center for the city of Westlake, while maintaining the historical integrity of the site.

Who owns the “Red Brick”?

The building is owned by the Westlake Board of Education. They will continue to own the building, leasing it to us at an extremely reasonable rate ($1 per year) for an extended period of time (99 years).

Why is there still a “Lease This Building” sign in front of the building?

We are still finalizing the terms of lease with the Board of Education, and until these negotiations are complete, we can not change the signage in front of the building. Until then, The Board of Education has signed a “Letter of Intent”, stating that they are giving us a specific amount of time, allowing us to put funding in place in order to restore and lease the building.

How old is the building?

Serving all of Dover Township (which included what is now known as Bay Village and parts of North Olmsted), the building opened in 1909 with four classrooms, educating grades 1 - 12. In 1918, the community voted to build an addition to the back of the building, and 4 more classrooms were created. Once the new Dover High School was built in 1923, the building was used again solely as an elementary school. It served in that capacity until the late 1960’s. From then on it housed the administrative offices of the school district until the summer of 2003.

Are you going to nominate the building to the National Register of Historic Places?

The “Red Brick” schoolhouse is a historic landmark that is an important historical, architectural and cultural element of Westlake.  Many of the Red Brick’s alumni have gone on to have illustrious lives and careers, including renowned artist Harold Balazs (’48) and astronaut Bob “Bucky” Overmeyer (’54). Northeast Ohio, indeed the country, has benefited from the service of this building. Our intent is to nominate the property to the National Register of Historic Places, the nation's list of properties worthy of preservation, and its planned conversion to an arts center will comply with the U. S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation.

How much is it going to cost to renovate the building?

It’s going to cost approximately $3 million for the renovation, fixtures and furnishings. We are also going to raise another $2 million to create an endowment that will subsidize our annual operating budget and help pay for future maintenance of the building.

Who’s going to pay for this?

We anticipate a mix of funding will come from a variety of sources, including individual and corporate donations and sponsorships, foundation grants and currently available governmental grants. We are also looking into some other potential sources of funding, such as historic tax credits.

Will this affect my property taxes?

No. For this to affect your property taxes, we would have to create a levy and place it on the ballot for the community to vote on. We have no intention to seek this type of public funding for the arts center, either for the renovation or the annual operations. We will however work diligently to acquire currently available governmental grants, on the county, state and national level. The City of Westlake helped fund our 2006 study, for which we are extremely grateful. Further funding from the city has not been requested or determined.

Annual operations will be funded by a mix of available public funds, private donations, corporate donations and sponsorships, annual memberships, class fees, sales of artwork and the interest derived from our endowment.

From the outside, the building looks like it’s in pretty rough shape. Is it really worth saving?

Yes. The deterioration seen in the building is primarily cosmetic. The windows are the most obvious candidates for restoration or replacement, with rotting or missing wood and broken or missing glass.

The rest of the cosmetic issues result from our having to remove suspended ceilings, temporary walls, carpet, etc. Restrooms will be reconfigured to allow wheelchair access, as will doorways, where needed. Floors, glass transoms and slate blackboards will be restored. The roof will be replaced. Windows will be restored (if possible) or replaced. Mechanical systems, while in relatively good order, will be replaced to allow for better climate control and energy efficiency.

The brick and mortar of the building are in good order, but will require some tuck-pointing in some areas. The plaster is in good shape. The sandstone is also in good shape, but will require gentile cleaning. In short the 100 year old building is incredibly sound, but needs some cosmetic renovation, systems replacement, and for our needs, will be reconfigured in some areas.

Because of its consistent use as a school related facility, relatively few changes have been made to the original structure, which means that many of the historical characteristics are still present throughout the building.

Click here to view recent interior photos. Click here to view recent exterior photos.

How big is the “Red Brick”?

With over 16,000 square feet of space, on three floors, the Red Brick offers large airy spaces, with lots of natural lighting and high ceilings. Some spaces can be reconfigured to create large spaces; others can be split up to create intimate music rehearsal rooms and offices. By making the spaces throughout the building flexible there is ample room for the kinds of activities we have planned for the arts center.

Wouldn’t it be cheaper and easier to build a new building?

Not really. To preserve, renovate and furnish the Red Brick will cost about $180 per square foot total project cost. This is more cost effective when you compare that to the average cost of building new, which is approximately $200 per square foot total project cost.

Also, we will not have to pay for land if we use the Red Brick. The Board of Education will lease us the building at a reasonable rate ($1 per year) for an extended period of time (99 years). By working with the Westlake Board of Education and preserving a building of historic value, we will also qualify for preservation related and state funding that we would otherwise not have available.

Buying land in Westlake for a new building is a costly enterprise. Depending upon location, zoning and size of the land, costs could be substantial. In addition buying land for a new building could include costs for demolition, clearing, utilities, retention, landscaping and site improvements. These costs would add significantly to the total cost of establishing an arts center. In addition, the lack of a site and building under the board’s control would make fundraising for a new building much more difficult. Securing a vacant site prior to the 2-year fundraising period could cost thousands of dollars up front. Having a site and an existing building, such as the Red Brick, under lease, not only reduces the costs and complexity of the project, but also increases the interest and support for the needed fundraising.

Will the building be ADA Compliant (wheelchair accessible)?

Yes. This project will involve necessary careful updating of the building to address functional and safety issues.  These include installation of a new elevator to provide for handicapped accessibility and a new grade-level entrance convenient to the newly configured parking lot. In addition basement restrooms will be reconfigured for accessibility and new unisex restrooms will be constructed on the two upper floors.

My family’s into sports and other things, not art. Why is this important for me and my family?

The arts improve our quality of life and are an essential building block of strong communities. Research proves that when the arts thrive, student achievement scores sky-rocket, health and well-being improves, businesses move in, tourism increases, and communities’ economies grow.

Whether or not you or your family members choose to participate in the classes or programs offered by RBCA, the presence of such a facility will help spur economic development, help children thrive at school and make Westlake an even more attractive city for prospective home-buyers and new businesses.

To find out more about how the arts strengthen communities, click here.

What will happen to other local arts organizations like Clague Playhouse, Huntington and Baycrafters when RBCA opens?

Our goal is not to supplant or undermine these organizations, but to add more opportunities for learning and participating in the arts for all Westshore residents and visitors. One way we will help is by offering information about these and other local arts centers and organizations to our center’s visitors and patrons.

We are also working with these and other groups to develop a consortium of western Cuyahoga County and eastern Lorain County arts organizations. The idea is for these groups to pool their resources and find innovative ways to market and program as a group, thereby strengthening the region as an “arts destination”.

Will there be room for artists to rent studio space?

No. The RBCA will be primarily a center of arts education and exhibitions. Unfortunately, we’ve determined that there will not be room for artist studio spaces in addition to our classroom and exhibition spaces. However, space may be available for special event rentals and for community use. Artists, student groups, art clubs, small performance groups and other non-profit organizations will be able to use spaces at either a discounted rate or for free, to be determined on a case-by-case basis, as the center’s schedule allows.

If you are a Westshore artist looking to rent studio space in the area, we suggest contacting TrueNorth Cultural Arts Center in Avon Lake. They have many art studio spaces available for lease in a variety of sizes.

How can I volunteer?

We’re looking for all kinds of help: from baking goodies, to helping with special events, grant writing and leadership roles in our capital campaign… there are many ways for everyone of all ages to get involved. For more information about how you can help, click here.

I am an artist/musician/dancer/instructor. Do you have any opportunities for me now or will you in the future?

Yes. Get in touch with us if you are an artist (any discipline) and/or arts instructor, and might be interested in future opportunities at the “Red Brick”. Also, we are currently working on developing exhibition and/or performance opportunities for local artists in the Westshore area. In addition, we get calls regularly from schools and organizations looking for artists and musicians. Let us know if you would be interested in any of these opportunities.

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