A renovated warehouse in the Portland neighborhood will be the new home for the University of Louisville’s art studios.
The two-story brick building at 1606 Rowan Street is currently owned by Rowan Downstream, whose partners include developer and city council candidate Gill Holland. The University of Louisville Foundation will lease 27-thousand square feet, which is about a third of the building, which was built in the 1880s.
The location is just a couple of blocks away from two other arts-related spots: the Tim Faulkner Gallery on Portland Avenue and the new headquarters of Louisville Visual Art on Lytle Street.
U of L’s MFA degree in studio arts and design includes courses in ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, glass, and printmaking. The first floor and second-floor mezzanine will be renovated to accommodate the new studios. Renovations are expected to be completed by the spring 2017 semester.