Masonic temple undergoing renovations

People who work with the Art Central Foundation usually paint paintings, but this week, they’re painting and rehabilitating their own own building.

The work is in preparation for the Sept. 7 re-dedication of the Masonic Temple on 4 N. Main St., the former home of the Temple Arts Center. The event, to which the public is invited, will feature a reception from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Cincinnati State’s lower lobby across the street. The re-dedication of the building will be at noon, and tours of the new arts center will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Art Central Foundation had previously held classes and events in the Masonic Temple, but in years past, it was a tenant. The foundation now owns the building outright, said Sue Wittman, the director of the organization. It received a facade grant from the city for $13,655, which helps fund a $27,310 project. That includes a installing a new glass and metal door on the south side, repairing windows on the second floor, stabilizing glass on the third and fourth floor putting new gutters and downspouts across the rear top of the building, new windows on the second and third floors, and a new door on the first floor.

“We never had a chance to paint when we moved in last time to get our classes going, so we want to make it a bit more bright and cheery for our kids,” said Sue Wittman, the director of the foundation.

The work won’t be completely done by the time of the re-dedication; the building suffered severe water damage when the gutters and downspouts fell into disrepair, said Joe Wittman, a foundation board member.

“Until we owned the building, we didn’t put any money into doing anything, and it sat empty without us here for a couple of years,” Sue Wittman said.

In addition, the building needs an elevator. Previously, patrons could take the elevator in the adjoining bank building, but with that building in the hands of Cincinnati State, that’s no longer an option, Sue Wittman said. Patrons have to climb a long flight of stairs to get to the classrooms, and then there’s another long flight of stairs to the theater upstairs. The foundation is exploring options to have an elevator installed.

While the Masonic Temple is being renovated, Art Central has been using a space on Vail Avenue donated to them by Flowers by Roger. The goal is to move operations there by next spring, said Sue Wittman.