GAMBIER — Kenyon College announces a new opportunity for collaboration and partnership with the Mount Vernon community.
Starting June 15, MTVarts and SPI will begin sharing the Wright Center’s office space with the Office for Community Partnerships. The office is located on the first floor of the Buckeye Candy and Tobacco building at 400 S. Main St., Suite 100 in Mount Vernon.
Expanded office space for SPI and MTVarts will facilitate the Wright Center becoming even more of a hub for community arts and STEM education leadership. Kenyon’s Office for Community Partnerships will remain an active presence in the office, and the college’s film program will continue to reside on the second and third floors of the historic building.
“This move is a physical representation of the connections we have and continue to build between Kenyon and community partners. We are excited to support the leadership of two thriving art and science education organizations and expect this move will facilitate opportunities for even greater collaboration,” OCP Director Julie Brodie said.
Partnership provides administrative support
Many local donors established The Wright Center in 2017, including the Wright family, as a way for Kenyon to be more integrated into the community. Previously, the building housed a wholesale grocery before becoming the Buckeye Candy and Tobacco Company.
Much of the first floor was designed for SPI when the building was renovated, but the focus on maximizing space for play and exploration for local families left little room for administrative support.
“Both SPI and MTVarts dedicate the bulk of their square footage to usage by program participants as play space and performance space — but the people who have vision and ideas that are required to make that magic happen need dedicated spots to work and meet,” said SPI Director Stephanie Calondis-Geiger.
“This is an ideal locale for office space because of the proximity to both organizations’ main spaces. SPI Spot is already in the building for public access, and MTVarts is just down Blackberry Alley. We already benefit from regular partnerships with Kenyon faculty and staff and now we’ll share space with another beloved existing partner: MTVarts.”
Carrie Haver of MTVarts said the arts organization is privileged to partner with Kenyon and SPI in sharing office space in the Wright Center.
“We are thrilled to now be next door to our warehouse, sharing a stronger network with our current partners while building new relationships and enhancing educational opportunities with SPI and the Office for Community Partnerships,” shes aid. “MTVarts is grateful for this win-win-win for all organizations involved.”
