Artists are fighting to retain studio space in an old elementary school

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio (WOIO) – “This is an installation by a local artist, Dana Depew,” explained ARTFUL Cleveland's Shannon Morris as she walked through the Coventry PEACE Campus building. “And they’re ready to move to a new location because now we have to be out by January 31st.”

The former Coventry Elementary School became the studio complex for artists, the Coventry PEACE Campus.

“We renovated this lobby so we can have rotating art exhibits,” Morris said. “So many people come in who have never been to an art gallery.”

The Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library Board of Trustees purchased the building from the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District in 2018, and the library estimates it has since spent nearly half a million dollars on maintenance that was not covered by tenants. And the building needs renovation.

“By their estimate, two, eight million dollars,” Deborah Herrmann, library finance officer, told the Cleveland Heights City Council at a special committee meeting of the whole on Oct. 8.

“The library has invested a lot of taxpayer money and funding into this building, which is not open to the public and is operated by private organizations,” said Herrmann.

But the Cleveland Heights City Council supports the artists.

“I urge all of my council colleagues to join me in supporting the PEACE Campus efforts,” Councilman Craig Cobb said at the Oct. 7 council meeting.

“Everyone knows that this is a part of the community and that it enriches the community,” Morris said. “Having an empty building here is not good for anyone.”

“If they had a 'We're doing this,' that would make more sense,” Morris continued. “But right now it doesn’t make any sense, so it’s very difficult for me to accept.”

Board President Nancy Levin said the board wanted to take some time to decide what to do with the building. If they were to put it to another use, they would have to vacate it for renovations. She also says that they could also raze it to the ground.

“We have 34 artists who need a new home in the near future,” Morris said. “My heart is breaking. It really does.”

Nine of the 12 PEACE Campus tenants must move out by January 31, while the other three will have their leases shortened.

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