A LOOK BACK
The CSU Art Gallery first opened in 1975 at CSU’s 2307 Chester Avenue building, where it operated for 36 years until being demolished in 2011. The gallery was joined physically with the Department of Art and Design and the Department of Theatre and Dance. Those facilities lacked ideal conditions required by modern museums and galleries: limited HVAC controls, low and confined ceilings, and a lack of natural light hindered the space’s ability to properly display art. In 2012, the gallery moved to
the 1920 historic building located at 1307 Euclid Avenue, which originally housed the Cowell and Hubbard Jewelry Company. The space was leased and renovated specifically to house the Galleries and was renamed The Galleries at CSU. The space was much improved: the ceilings were high, the marble floors were polished, the lighting was excellent, and the preserved architectural details conveyed the building’s sturdy and elegant bones.
For 11 years, the Galleries at CSU was a cornerstone in the Playhouse Square district, along with the CSU Arts Campus – which includes CSU’s School
of Film and Media Arts, the Department of Theater and Dance, the Department of Art and Design, and the School of Music, all housed in the historic Middough Building, which CSU owns, on East 13th Street between Chester and Euclid. These departments share a similar creative mission and have used the Galleries for filming, performances, virtual exhibits, music recitals, and performances. In addition, the Galleries have collaborated with other CSU departments and colleges to feature programs and lectures.
A SPECIAL MOMENT IN TIME: THE OPPORTUNITY
CSU plans to renovate part of the ground floor of the historic Middough Building – currently an underutilized parking garage – to create a new home for the Galleries, once again bolstering our presence as a cornerstone of Cleveland’s vibrant theater district and boosting the city’s creative economy. With Playhouse Square’s purchase of the former art deco Greyhound bus terminal at the intersection of Chester Avenue and East 13th Street, the CSU Arts Campus in the Middough Building will become a critical link between Euclid and Chester for pedestrians and others interested in the Cleveland art scene. At street level and with massive light-filled windows, the Galleries will be a prime location for theater patrons spending time in the area before and after performances. In addition, the Galleries will bring much needed improved outdoor lighting and foot traffic to an area that is currently uninviting and dominated by concrete and safety concerns.
Now is the time to turn toward this area, not back away. CSU’s Arts Campus is part of the solution to urban disinvestment, and we embrace the opportunity to help create a vibrant future for the neighborhood. Together with Playhouse Square, we are committed to revitalizing and reclaiming East 13th Street for the benefit of all in the city. The CSU Galleries will be an anchor of this revitalization.
Initial conversations with important partners have included the City of Cleveland, LAND Studio, Ideastream, Assembly for the Arts, Playhouse Square, Cleveland Play House, and Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. These partners have all endorsed and reinforced our commitment. They all see the potential, and we are prepared to enter intentional, meaningful community partnerships which will ensure that this asset is available for all to enjoy.
MISSION AND PROGRAMMING
The mission of the Galleries is to educate, edify, and engage all audiences by presenting content that promotes the understanding of art and its relationship to society. The Galleries have long been a vibrant hub, hosting full exhibition schedules that celebrate the best of student creativity, showcase renowned artists who brought their work to Cleveland for public programming, and engage the community through events like the beloved Robert Thurmer Peoples Art Show. Through its programming and art shows, the Galleries serve as a laboratory for the creation, study, contemplation, and critical analysis of works of art and their context. Furthermore, students have an opportunity to gain professional experience, learn job skills in the museum field, and gain knowledge about the business of art in the context of a professional gallery setting.
The Galleries are integral to the academic study and career pursuits of our CSU art and design students. A high-quality public gallery offers extensive internship opportunities and gives students vital experience in organizing, hosting, and participating in juried art exhibitions. Since launching the full-time art program and juried student Art and Merit Scholar Exhibition in 1971, CSU has recognized and rewarded student talent and provided a forum to highlight Merit Scholars with solo exhibitions. Being part of the juried exhibitions is critical for students and their portfolios, especially to those who receive student art awards.
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Since its inception, the CSU Galleries have enlightened our Northeast Ohio community by staging exhibitions of numerous renowned national and international artists. The CSU Galleries produce a full color catalog for each exhibition which is provided free of charge to visitors and participants. These catalogs feature artists’ statements, artwork photographs, and acknowledgements to recognize those involved in the exhibition (designers, student employees, and funders). Catalogs also serve as documentation of the exhibitions and are treasured by artists across the community. CSU retains all past catalogs, and they are often requested by artists and researchers interested in past shows. A list of past exhibitions dating back to 1999, plus a special catalog highlighting African-American artists in Cleveland from 1970 to 2005, can be found on the CSU Exhibitions Archives webpage.
An exciting opportunity for our entire community presents itself once the transformation of the parking-garage-turned-gallery is complete and The Galleries at East 13th Street
Powered by CSU become a reality. From the outset, the Galleries will offer 52 weeks of public programming. Notably, a proposed partnership with Assembly for the Arts will foster deeper relationships between the region’s arts and creative communities and provide more opportunities and services for artists, creatives, and designers at early stages of their careers. After all, CSU students are the region’s emerging painters, sculptors, illustrators, photographers, and graphic designers!
Through these developing partnerships, local artists will have the opportunity to use the Galleries to exhibit their work. They will also have the option to enroll as students or auditors in CSU classes ranging from studio art to psychology. The Galleries at East 13th Street
Powered by CSU will serve as a space that convenes the local art community, connecting our students and faculty to local artists and connecting local artists to the public. In addition, we are proposing a partnership with Ideastream, which is seeking a way to deepen our communities’ engagement with jazz music. Ideastream plans to utilize the stage in the Galleries space to host jazz ensembles and performances for the entire community.
A NEW VISION
The Galleries will offer the amenities and conditions necessary for optimal exhibitions. These conditions are detailed below and will be further defined in a master blueprint that will include:
• 340 running feet of wall space
• 10,000 square feet
• Climate controls capable of meeting museum
standards for art on loan (maintaining a temperature of 70°F and relative humidity of 50%)
• 1,600 square feet of non-art storage; not climate critical, but must be housed in the same building
• 1,800 square feet of art storage; climate critical, could be in a different location
• 3/4-inch plywood backed walls to support artwork installations without the use of anchors
• Professional track lighting with dimmer rack: programable, dimmable, and timer capable
• High ceilings, at least 14- to 16-feet tall, to accommodate art installations
• Kitchenette to support catered events
• Elevated stage to allow for performances in the space
• Controlled entrance and egress for security of artwork, staff safety, and visitor attendance tracking
• Security cameras recorded and monitored by CSU Police
• Glass storefront entrance to attract visitors and allow controlled natural light
• Built-in wireless sound system for events, speeches, and performances
• Movable temporary walls to increase running feet and integrated on-site space to store walls when not needed
SUMMARY
A thriving creative economy brings businesses, jobs, energy, and vitality to a city. Through the design and renovation of a new, permanent home, The Galleries at East 13th Street Powered by CSU will continue its role as a leader in our arts community, through staging exhibitions, equipping emerging artists with the resources to excel, and providing an accessible space, for 52 weeks of programming that welcomes in our entire community.
While the CSU Galleries have long embraced a mission of serving and engaging the community – The People’s Art Show is one example – The Galleries at East 13th Street Powered by CSU elevates community service to an even higher priority. At the beginning of 2025, CSU launched a new strategic plan that includes our new mission statement declaring that CSU is Cleveland’s University; we are in and of the city of Cleveland.
Of our three main priorities, one involves reimagining and deepening our community partnerships to expand opportunities for current and prospective students, leveraging all that CSU offers to benefit our city, and serving as a convenor to help address Cleveland’s most pressing social and economic challenges. With this vision, The Galleries at East 13th Street Powered by CSU will not simply replace the previous gallery space we had leased on Euclid Avenue for the past 11 years. Rather, The Galleries at East 13th Street will allow us to engage artists, arts organizations, and residents more deeply with new programs and stronger commitments. We look forward to sharing this vision with you and a bright outlook for future generations of visual artists in Northeast Ohio.
PROJECT PLAN
Construction Costs
Middough Parking Area
Buildout 10,588 sf
Construction
New HVAC
Sanitary
Sprinkler
Bollards
Exterior Repair
Fire Alarm Upgrade
General Conditions (7%)
$218/sf
$45/sf
$10/sf
$3/sf
$20,000
$2,000,000
$500,000
$5,442,288 x 7%
$2,308,184
$476,460
$105,880
$31,764
$20,000
$2,000,000
$500,000
$380,961
Total $5,823,249
Operating Costs (Already budgeted by the College of Arts and Sciences)
Annual Operations
Scholarship Fund
Personnel (salary and fringe)
Total
$15,000
$5,000
$131,456
$151,456
FUNDING
STRATEGY
We plan to raise $4 million in private funding, which is twothirds of the cost for this project. The remainder will be funded by CSU and by the State of Ohio. Currently, we have raised $1.45 million with a lead gift from Tom and Joanie Adler and another donor.
FUNDRAISING
AND CONSTRUCTION MILESTONES
• At $1 million, CSU will hire an architect and engineering firm.
• At $3 million, CSU will hire a project manager.
• At $4 million, construction begins.
TIMELINE TO COMPLETION
Our goal is to meet the $4 million fundraising goal by December 2025. Construction would begin in summer 2026 and be completed by summer 2027. The Galleries would open to the public and CSU students would engage in the new Galleries would by early fall 2027.
Scan for a virtual walk through the 3D model.