Grove City Arts Council has place to call home
GROVE CITY — The Grove City Arts Council now has a place to stay.
The council will have a building located at 222 S. Broad St., said Sarah Hempel Irani, president of the council.
She said a “friend of the arts” saw that the building was for sale and chose to buy it to lease it to the council. She would not disclose who is buying the building, which currently is empty. The person approached the council about the building in December.
The 2,000-square-foot building contains three studios as well as space for classes and exhibitions.
The council began meeting in October 2011, and has been planning for an arts space since then.
“We've been planning this for a long time,” Irani said.
Without an art center, the council holds shows at the nearby coffee shop, Beans on Broad, or at the home of a council member.
“We haven't had a home,” Irani said.
Two of the rooms have been rented already, and she said the building may quickly run out of space. She said the council is open to splitting some of the rooms up, if necessary.
“I think we will have a full house when we open,” Irani said.
Currently, the rates for artists renting space is between $70 and $180 per month.
Irani said the council is planning a grand opening in mid-February, with a soft opening earlier in the month.
The council currently is in the middle of a $20,000 capital campaign to raise money to lease the building and offer programs. So far, the campaign has raised about $4,500.
“We're still looking for generous donors,” Irani said. “The people in Grove City really care about Grove City.”
To donate, visit the council's website at www.grovecityarts.com, or mail a check to the Grove City Arts Council, 118 S. Center St., Grove City, PA 16127.
