Cleveland State University is moving forward with plans to open the Galleries at 13th Street. Curated by CSU, the new downtown arts space is designed to expand student opportunities and strengthen connections with Cleveland’s creative community.

Close to Playhouse Square, the second-largest theater district in the country, the Galleries at 13th Street are intended to increase collaboration and cultural exchange between campus and the surrounding arts district.

“We try to bring artists in so our students can see what an artist is,” said Kendall Christian, Director of the Galleries at CSU. “This guy’s from New York, or this guy’s from Chicago, or this guy’s from the South.”

The $8.2 million project was unveiled last year and will convert 18 parking spaces on the ground-floor level of the Theatre Arts Building into the Galleries at 13th Street. Plans emphasize flexibility, allowing the space to host exhibitions, performances, receptions and community events.
 

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   The proposed design for The Galleries at East 13th Street. (credit: DVA Architecture)

Renderings show movable walls and adaptable layouts that can change depending on programming needs. The design also includes a small stage for live music and dance. 

“It’s not going to be a huge stage, but it’s enough to do what we need,” Christian said.

Additional features will include a loading dock for artwork deliveries, dedicated storage areas and office space for staff and students. A street-level vestibule entrance on E. 13th St.will help regulate temperature and protect artwork from weather exposure.

Funding for the project is largely coming from donors, with CSU contributing about a quarter of the total cost. Construction will move forward in phases based on fundraising milestones.

“When we get half the money, we get to hire an architect,” Christian said. “When we get more money, three-fourths of the money then we can hire construction workers.”

Because fundraising is still underway, no official opening date has been announced.

“If money is quick, the gallery will be quick,” he explained. “But if money is slow, then we have to wait for the money, because we can’t spend money that we don’t have.”

The Cleveland Collective Arts Network, noted that CSU has operated for several years without a permanent gallery after its former Euclid Avenue location closed in 2023. The new project marks a significant shift, restoring a dedicated exhibition space within the university and placing it in a more prominent downtown setting.

Christian said the new gallery will be slightly larger than the previous space and better equipped to serve students and visiting artists.

In addition to planning the new gallery, CSU continues to host its long-standing Student Art Show through partnerships with other venues in the community.

“We will have our student shows, which we have every year,” Christian said. “It’s our 54th show already. We started in 1964.”

The exhibition is open to all enrolled students, regardless of major, and is evaluated by three external judges.

“Even if you submit, you might not get in,” he  said. “But that just makes the show better.”

While the new Galleries at 13th Street Curated by CSU are still in development, student programming remains active, reflecting the university’s continued commitment to providing exhibition opportunities.