Tuesday, December 07, 1999
New arts center on drawing board
Uptown Arts planned for old warehouse on Liberty Street
BY JACKIE DEMALINE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati has a downtown and soon it will have an Uptown.
Following the sale of F&W Publications Inc., owners Richard and Lois Rosenthal have purchased a 110-year-old Over-the-Rhine warehouse that will be converted to hold their foundation offices and a new project, Uptown Arts. Both are set to debut next fall.
“We have in our minds to open an arts center for the neighborhood,” Mrs. Rosenthal said. “We decided it was no fun to sit in an office. It's fun to sit by artists and kids.”
The three-story warehouse — adjacent to Grammer's Restaurant, facing Liberty Street between Walnut and Main streets a block from Gabriel's Corner arts space — potentially creates another arts anchor for Over-the-Rhine.
Among the plans are a small theater space on the first floor for afternoon storytelling, exhibits and performances. Young performers will play on floor two. The light-filled third floor will be renovated for dance and visual arts.
The intention, Mrs. Rosenthal said, is to create a place where “preschoolers can come during the day with their caregivers.”
“It's really an offshoot of our Rosie Reader program. I've seen such a profound impact when children are exposed to reading with their caregiver. It would be wonderful to see art bring families together.”
The Rosenthals are longtime local arts philanthropists. Among their best-known sponsorships are the Rosenthal New Play Prize and Next Generation Theatre Series at Playhouse in the Park. They regularly underwrite local productions, including upcoming programs at Ensemble Theatre and Cincinnati Ballet. They committed $5 million this year to the planned Rosenthal Contemporary Arts Center.
Uptown Arts, Mrs. Rosenthal said, will be “our major concentration” for the immediate future. “We're devoting a huge amount of our energies in that direction.”
As far as uses in the evening, “We're feeling our way,” she said.
Visual and performing artists will be invited to work with the youngsters.
“We want it to be a place where the artists who work with the kids are nourished as well,” she said.
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