The Peoria nonprofit ART [Artists ReEnvisioning Tomorrow] Inc. has acquired a building at 1819 SW Adams St. that will be transformed into a creative maker space.
ART Inc. co-founder Nikki Romain said the new facility will include a film and media production studio, art gallery, event venue and creative workforce development center.
In an interview for WCBU Reports, Romain shared that the space will provide both youth and the community people an opportunity to explore filmmaking, digital media and visual arts, as well as entrepreneurship, workforce development and collaborative community programming.
"What we envision is a creative space where we can do productions, theater, have gallery spaces and studios for content creation." said Romain.
What started as a vision to help youth in Peoria through the arts continues to blossom and grow. In the beginning, it was just Nikki and her husband Jonathon. That has expanded to 34 full- and part-time employees and contractors. Now the nonprofit is looking to its new home to expand the impact.
Since its beginning in 2018, the offerings at ART Inc. have grown from merely an after-school arts programming into a wide-ranging menu of classes that offer a more comprehensive social impact entity that serves youth, adults and families across Peoria and Central Illinois.
According to ART Inc, their current programs include:
• ASALA: An after-school arts and academic enrichment
• Pathways: A college and career readiness initiative
• SOLVE; A community violence intervention program
The organization also offers a GED program, youth leadership development, creative workforce opportunities, community engagement and cultural programming.
No specific timetable has been established yet on the completion of renovations and a build-out on the new facility, but funds have been coming in to support the work, and the group will hold a fundraising event for supporters and donors in early November.
The building is part of the former UFS outlet store downtown and formerly housed the UFS Furniture Outlet. Thanks to some state funds secured through state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth's office, the Romains were able to complete the purchase earlier this summer.
Nikki Romain said they can't wait to see what comes out of the production facility.
"I'm excited to see what we can do her in central Illinois to build this whole new industry," said Romain.
The group will hold a fundraiser in early November for donors, supporters and city officials. Work has begun on the new facility, but no firm timeline for completion has yet been established.
