News from The Barn

contributed by Kym Kuenning

Generous Grants Received

The Scripps Howard Foundation has awarded a $1250 Volunteer Grant to the Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati Foundation.  It recognizes Sue Porter, a Scripps retiree, for her volunteer service on the  committee that raised funds to renovate the loft of The Barn, a regional cultural center in Mariemont. 

In accepting the check Lynn Long, Executive Director of the WACC Foundation, said the grant will fund a display that will recognize donors whose contributions are making the $500,000 expansion possible.

Porter, former vice-president of programs for Scripps Howard, applied for the grant because she acknowledged the need for a visual presentation thanking donors for their contributions.

“With their financial support, The Barn will have more usable space for programs that will benefit thousands of people throughout the Tri-State for decades to come.  That’s a priceless gift,” said Porter.

Lynn Long, Executive Director of the Woman's Art Cultural Center, also known as The Barn, accepts a grant from The Scripps Howard Foundation through the generosity of Sue Porter. Long has been instrumental is securing grants to meet The Barn's financial goal of raising more than $200,000 for renovation.

The Scripps Howard Foundation empowers past and present employees by offering them opportunities to apply for grant money for regional non-profit organizations that support strong families, arts, culture and other civic affairs.

The WACCF has been engaged in a funding campaign since 2014 in an effort to improve the safety and comfort of the loft of a former dairy barn, which is listed on the National Historic Landmark Registry.  

In addition, thanks to the generosity of the Louis & Louise Nippert Charitable Foundation, the Barn, also known as the Woman’s Art Cultural Center, may complete its plan to update the Loft of the former Resthaven Barn, previous site of the Lindner Quality Milk Company.

The Louis and Louise Nippert Charitable Foundation contributed $78,500, which the Barn will apply to the installation of a service lift for wheelchair accessibility and a handicap-accessible restroom upstairs.

“The Foundation is ecstatic about the extremely generous donation from the grant, which allows us to install an elevator up to our newly renovated hayloft. The finished loft provides much-needed space for exhibitions, movies, lectures, performances, classes, and events. And soon we will have full access for all,”said Nancy Reynolds, President of the Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati Foundation, the non-profit that operates The Barn.

Louis and Louise Nippert, long-standing supporters of the arts, established the Louis and Louise Nippert Foundation in 1981 as a means to provide financial assistance to non-profit organizations related to nature preservation, music, the arts, medical research, and education.  In 2017, the Foundation donated more than $3.4 million to worthy causes in the Greater Cincinnati area.  

Hubert Reeves designed the Barn in 1924 as a means of housing livestock and boosting the agricultural capabilities of Mariemont.  Several years later, the Lindners leased the property, which  later became home to the community’s maintenance and tax offices. When these entities moved, the Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati, founded in 1892, created the WACC Foundation and raised funds to restore its Georgian-Revival architecture.

In addition to Carl Lindner’s half-million dollar start-up donation, the club attained funding from the state of Ohio with the support of Otto Budig and Michelle Schneider, who served at that time on the budgeting committee, to finish the building’s tack room, east wing and driveway.  

By 2014, the WACC Foundation decided to lift its restoration spirit into the loft—a mission that would require extensive windows, electrical work, HVAC, and lighting projects prior to the elevator and restrooms.  The cost of the second major renovation reached nearly one-half million dollars.  

Thanks to the efforts of the WACC Foundation and Barn director Lynn Long, who secured grant requests, the Barn has nearly enough funds for completion and will soon be able to hone in on its artistic mission to enhance the arts at affordable rates within the Tri-State area with additional classes, performances, and exhibitions.

“Thank you…for all you do to make the Greater Cincinnati area a better place,” said Carter Randolph, President of the Louis and Louise Nippert Charitable Foundation, in a letter written to the Barn upon notification of the award.

The Barn is a separate entity from the Woman’s Art Club.  It is listed on the National Historical Landmark Registry.

The Barn provides free or low-cost programs related to the performing and visual arts.   It features more than 30 events each year, but will be able to expand its repertoire once it attains wheelchair accessibility and a second-floor restroom.

The Barn is located at 6980 Cambridge Avenue in Mariemont. To learn more about the Barn, go to artatthebarn.org.

Elevator To Be Added Soon

Anybody need a lift?  Thanks to the magnanimous donations of several regional foundations, The Barn has started the construction of an elevator within the rounded features of its old silo.  Under the supervision of the Hudepohl Construction Company, the lift is just one facet of a renovation project that also includes restrooms, updated utilities and skylights. 

Project manager Walt Hudepohl and Jan Boone, who serves on The Barn’s financial committee .

The Barn, formerly known as Resthaven, was once home to the Lindner Quality Milk Company.  The 1924 dwelling is listed on the National Historic Landmark Registry and now serves as a gathering place for the Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati.  

The elevator will be available for use this June.

Get Souped with the Tuesday-Night Painters and the Generosity of La Soupe

Kathleen Wilkins and The Tuesday-Night Painters, who meet at the Barn, are proud to announce their second annual show not only features the original artwork of about 15 painters but offers a few slurps of soup as well.

Kathleen Wilkins is founder of The Tuesday-Night Painters' show, which this year will benefit La Soupe, a local non-profit dedicated to preventing hunger.

La Soupe, a non-profit organization designed to provide meals to families in need, has agreed to offer soup shots from the hearts and hands of their dedicated chefs at both art shows on May 3 and 4.

Suzy DeYoung, former owner of La Petite Pierre, founded La Soupe in 2012 in response to an escalating hunger crisis among Cincinnati children.  At that time, the city was ranked fifth among U.S. cities in childhood poverty, according to her website.  The organization now has 47 regional partners and collects about 5000 pounds of healthy perishable food each week.

Wilkins, who was invited to complete a painting demonstration at the Cincinnati Art Museum, last year was the creator of the original show, which hopes to be an annual event.

The receptions takes place on May 3 and May 4 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. each evening.  The gallery will be open the following Saturday and Sunday from through 4 p.m.  The artists agreed to donate 20% of their profits to La Soupe, in addition making a flat donation.  

The Barn is located at 6980 Cambridge Avenue.  For more information, go to artatthebarn.org.