Dear ARTFUL Artists and Supporters,

We are writing to you today with a deep sense of disappointment and frustration. As many of you know, the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Library (the owner) has made the decision to close and mothball the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Building—a place that has been home to so much creativity, learning, and community-building. This decision comes despite our ongoing efforts to engage with the Library and both cities of Cleveland Heights and University Heights to seek a solution that would benefit all stakeholders.

For months, in the spirit of cooperation, our organization kept many of our frustrations to ourselves. We believed that a positive, collaborative path could be found. ARTFUL, along with other tenants, has worked tirelessly to be a constructive partner, and we have stayed relatively quiet in hopes of achieving a fair outcome for everyone. However, recent events have left us deeply disheartened.

At what was intended to be a collaborative meeting between the Library and the cities of Cleveland Heights and University Heights, it became clear that the Library leadership had no genuine intention of working with the stakeholders. The Library arrived without a cohesive message, offering only vague research and a confusing statement about "philosophical differences" that lacked clarity. Throughout the meeting, Library Board members not only spoke over each other and contradicted one another but also used a dismissive tone when addressing City Council members, undermining the spirit of collaboration. Despite presenting figures about what they claim to have spent on the P.E.A.C.E. Building, when asked the simple question of how much rent the tenants have paid over the years, they were unable to provide an answer, further demonstrating a lack of transparency. This meeting, which was supposed to involve collaboration with City Council as previously agreed, appears to have been purely for optics and cannot go unaddressed. We encourage you to watch the video yourself at this link.

Though the Library Trustees claim otherwise, the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Building has always been an arts, culture, and education hub, and ARTFUL is proud to have played a key role in that. We provide more than affordable studio space for artists, which unto itself is very critical to a thriving and equitable arts scene, but we are also a vibrant part of this community, offering free and low-cost public programming that enriches the lives of all who participate. Through workshops, classes, exhibitions, and collaborations with other nonprofits, we have made art accessible to thousands of people of all backgrounds, and all age ranges.

At the joint meeting on Tuesday evening, the topic of privilege was raised, highlighting the fact that many of us—whether City Council, Library representatives, or members of our nonprofits—hold certain privileges, whether through race, time, or resources. This is undeniable. But at ARTFUL, we don’t shy away from this reality. We recognize our privilege and are intentional about using it to support and uplift those who often go unheard.

We are here for the single mother with two children, one of whom uses a wheelchair, who balances her art with the demands of caregiving. She doesn’t have the time or flexibility to attend meetings at the Library or City Council, so we stand in her place. We are here for the young artist who works full-time and is undergoing cancer treatment, unable to navigate the overwhelming schedule of meetings—so we are here for her.

We’re here for the young man who struggles in noisy, crowded spaces, and for the elderly artist who relies on transportation services that make attending meetings nearly impossible. We are here for the parents juggling family, work, and life’s endless responsibilities.

Our presence in these discussions isn’t just for ourselves—it’s for them. We understand that privilege isn’t something to be ignored; it’s something to be leveraged for the good of others. And we will continue to use ours to fight for the artists and community members whose voices need to be heard, even if they cannot be there to speak for themselves.

The Library's Director and Board of Trustees have unjustly portrayed ARTFUL as nothing more than a scheme to re-sell space, a claim that is far from reality. ARTFUL exists to uplift artists, foster creativity, provide professional opportunities for artists and offer transformative art experiences to the entire community. To dismiss our role and the impact we’ve had is not just an insult to ARTFUL, but to the broader mission of cultivating the arts. It also disregards the very residents—who help fund the Library through their tax dollars—who have studios at ARTFUL, participate in our free programming, or volunteer their time and expertise as board members and supporters. By reducing us to a handful of so-called troublemakers, the Library has dehumanized our collective voice, which represents the efforts of a community dedicated to keeping the arts accessible and thriving for all.

We have partnered with both the City of University Heights and Cleveland Heights, offered free community events, and created a space where creativity can flourish—an essential resource in a time when the arts are increasingly underfunded. The work we do aligns not just with our mission, but with the values of Cleveland Heights, a city that claims to be "Home to the Arts."

Despite the overwhelming support of the community, the Library has closed the door on our presence at the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Building, forcing us to begin the difficult transition from the space we’ve called home. Now, like so many arts facilities as of late, our future is uncertain—we do not yet know where we will find our new home, how long that process will take, or even if we will be able to remain in Cleveland Heights. What we do know, however, is that we are not alone. We have the backing of key community members and strong support from governmental leaders in both cities. With their guidance and the unwavering dedication of our supporters, we will do everything possible to ensure that our ARTFUL artists continue to contribute to the vibrant local arts scene in Greater Cleveland, wherever we may land.

We ask for your support now more than ever. Please join us on October 25th from 6-9 pm for our last open studios in our beloved P.E.A.C.E. Building. Together, we can make sure that ARTFUL—and the spirit of creativity and collaboration that it represents—continues to thrive.

Thank you for your unwavering belief in our mission.

With gratitude and resolve,
The ARTFUL Team

If you would like to make a donation to ARTFUL,
please visit our Donation Page.