The Valparaiso Creative Council, which has done much to promote the arts in Valparaiso, won’t be homeless much longer.
The group is developing an arts center at 256 Indiana Ave., just outside the city’s official arts district.
“We’re looking to call it Valpo Creates Center,” Executive Director Jessica Corral said. “It’s exciting. This is an empty canvas for us.”
Corral tried her new key to the rental space for the first time and stepped inside. The large open space will look much better once remodeling is done, adding a drop ceiling and flooring to cover the mix of wooden boards and poured concrete.
The council is still looking for tenants but hopes it could be used by arts-related groups. The open space could be used for dancing, yoga instruction and similar purposes, she said.
“This used to be a recording studio,” Corral said as she entered the space used by WVLP in the past. With more remodeling, that area will serve as a meeting area and conference room. Design Construction, which is also housed in the building, is working with the council to tear down walls and do other remodeling to make the rented space suitable for its new purpose.
Walking deeper into the rented space, Corral entered an area that will become a studio to be used by visual artists.
“That’s the goal, to make it kind of an artists hub,” she said.
The council has a goal to raise $90,000 in 90 days to finish the renovations, which have already begun. The council needs to raise $45,000 to match a $45,000 grant. “We’re pretty confident about making that goal,” she said.
Corral is focused on making a space for art to be created. “We’re not looking to be a gallery,” she said; that need is already met nearby.
The Artists’ Guild of Valparaiso recently opened Gallery 255 across the street. Visitors can view and purchase works by the 70-plus guild members.
The arts center on the north side of the street is a long time coming.
In 2017, community input for the council included requests for an arts center for classes and other actions. That took a back seat while the council was getting established.
“We’re finally getting our legs underneath us. We’re toddler stage, I would say,” Corral said.
In 2021, the group began asking, “Can we get a location? What will that look like,” she said. “It definitely happened sooner than we expected.”
Remodeling the space is the first phase. Second and beyond will include repainting the exterior and possibly adding murals. The council has been a force behind the proliferation of murals downtown. Performing artists have been included in those events as well, a signal that visual arts aren’t the only focus.
The council also hopes to create programming inside the new space.
A mural that was on the wall near the Rolling Stonebaker restaurant on Lafayette Street has been moved to the council’s new digs, adding a pop of color to the wall. A mural created by citizens at a recent event will be installed at the Lafayette location.
The building has a long history. In 1931, it housed the Valparaiso Dry Cleaning Works. Valpo Body and Fender Works was there in 1939. In the 1940s, Valparaiso Beverage Co. was there. Casbon Electric had a warehouse there in 1970. Discount Wiring and Valparaiso Chiropractic Center were there in the 1980s. It was most recently Katie’s Antiques.
“We’re bringing back the building into the 21st century,” Corral said.
“We have a lot of good feedback already. A lot of artists are interested,” she said.
Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
