Rendering ‘Sculpting the Future’ of the Cain Center. Design by Nicole Perri Architecture

March 11. Groundbreaking for the Cain Center’s new ceramics center will take place Thursday, March 13 at the site on Catawba and Church where three historic houses are located.

Two of the houses will be renovated, one for additional Cain Center offices and one for the popular ceramics studio. The third, on the corner and in poor condition, was torn down to make way for open space that will function as an eastern gateway to downtown.

Background

The $4.7 million project is a key component of redevelopment in downtown Cornelius—and an expansion for the two-year-old Cain Center.

Private fundraising has already raised more than $1.5 million; a public fundraising effort will get under way at groundbreaking. The new and bigger facility will allow the Cain Center to offer more classes.

The Cain Center itself is a $40 million community asset in the center of downtown.

Quotable

Justin Dionne, the Cain Center’s executive director. / Sean Meyers Photography

“When we opened Cain Center, there were two things that we just couldn’t do. Those two things are ceramics and history,” said Justin Dionne, executive director of the Cain Center. “Those were two things we couldn’t find the right way to work into this (the Cain Center) building. For us, this is a great opportunity to close those loops. We owe it to the community and to our supporters.”

The Cornelius Arts Center, located in the Oak Street Mill since 2009, is operating there on a month-to-month basis. The mill complex will be redeveloped.

Another project

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for a brand-new interactive musical play space at the Cain Center for the Arts in Cornelius will take place at 4:30 pm tomorrow. The vibrant addition to the community blends music and movement, offering children of all abilities an engaging way to explore sound through play.

The innovative play space was made possible by Make An Impact Foundation, Miracle Recreation, the Lake Norman Rotary Club, and the Town of Cornelius.

Interactive musical play space at the Cain Center for the Arts