GCAEC Will Reach Private Funding Commitment for New Arts School

The Greater Cincinnati Arts and Education Center (GCAEC) announced that they have reached over 90% of their fundraising goal of $26 million to build the first K-12 public arts school in the country. With more than $23.5 million pledged from private donations, foundations and area businesses, the GCAEC Board has assured the CPS Board they will meet the goal of matching the District’s commitment of $26 million for the new school.

The money raised will go toward the development and construction of a combined home for the School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) and Schiel Primary. The new facility for 1,350 students would include improved classrooms, and specialized space for practice, performances and displays. The new building would replace SCPA, now serving grades 4-12 and located in Over-the-Rhine, and Schiel, now serving kindergarten through third grade and located in Corryville.

The vision of a new arts school located close to Music Hall in Over-the-Rhine came from Erich Kunzel, conductor of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and a longtime supporter of SCPA. Mr. Kunzel led the formation of the GCAEC to bring together other arts and education supporters to make the dream a reality.

“Our dream has been embraced by people all around the community,” Kunzel said. “With this interest and support have come new ideas that we welcome. This dream belongs to all the children who will attend this new school, all the people who live and work around it — and it belongs to the arts, to Over-the-Rhine, Music Hall, downtown Cincinnati and everyone who makes Greater Cincinnati their home. We will now work to develop the exciting partnerships that will help this school reach its potential – partnerships with the Symphony, Ballet, Opera, CET, Childrens Theater and many more.”

CPS Superintendent Alton Frailey is equally enthusiastic about the project.

“This unique opportunity for our children, our school system and our community will benefit all, and the Board and I are excited to see the support building every day across our city. The current SCPA is one of the most respected public arts schools in the country. The new building, with its location close to one of the nation’s premier performance halls and the access for students to the artists and facilities there, will become the envy of every school district in America.  Most importantly, our children and our city will be the major benefactors.” 

Alton Frailey
Superintendent of Schools

The GCAEC Board, represented by Chairman Erich Kunzel and President Bill Knodel, announced they also have secured commitments of $2 million for a fund for artistic excellence and a $1 million Federal grant for community arts programming. Fundraising for construction and endowment will continue.

Mr. Kunzel gave special recognition to Mrs. Patricia Corbett and the Corbett Foundation for being the largest donor with a donation of more than $5 million. He also thanked them for being a lead contributor, providing support for the original Feasibility Study and stepping up whenever funding was needed.

Bill Knodel, GCAEC Board President, announced that the Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Foundation has committed a total of $3.5 million to help support the new school. The foundation has designated $1.5 million as a capital donation and, with an additional $2 million, is establishing a fund to enhance the development of artistic excellence. This fund will help support unique educational programming, master class instruction and experiences for gifted students at the school. As part of this, the Mayerson Foundation is establishing the Mayerson Prize for Artistic Excellence to recognize exceptional artistic talent and achievement. 

Mr. Knodel also reported that $11.5 million in corporate funding support has been pledged from leading local companies including: Fifth Third Bank, Procter & Gamble, US Bank, Union Central Life and Western Southern.

Steve Leeper, CEO of the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) applauded the GCAEC board for its tireless efforts over nearly eight years to make the dream a reality and for embracing a new location for the school south of Washington Park as part of the 3CDC’s master plan for redevelopment of Over-the-Rhine and Washington Park.

“This new school will serve as anchor to Washington Park and to the Washington Park Revitalization Plan, which supports comprehensive redevelopment of Over-the-Rhine,” Leeper said. “3CDC is committed to an inclusive plan providing multiple-income residential development, parking solutions, retail, two new schools and support for one of our city’s treasures, Music Hall — all centered around a safe, vibrant, revitalized Washington Park. We will be working over the next 90 days with several partners to finalize this plan.”

“The extraordinary vision of so many generous individuals, foundations and businesses is a testament to the belief in the importance of education, the arts and Over-the-Rhine. We are deeply grateful to more than 450 donors who have supported our project to date,” concluded Mr. Knodel. “Together we are proving that the people of Cincinnati believe in a great future for our city, and are willing to come together to make it happen.”

7/6/04