Willamette Art Center looks for new home after state fairgrounds declines to renew lease

Yahoo

17-02-2025

Kelsey Kennedy was working on a clay lamb figurine at a recent open studio event at Willamette Art Center. It was her first ceramics class in 17 years.
The class, which drew a variety of age groups, worked the pottery wheel and made sculptures together.
Kennedy said she enjoyed the interactions she had and was glad to try a different creative outlet.
The art center at the Oregon State Fairgrounds has been an artistic outlet for many since 2006. It is now looking for a new home after the Oregon State Fair and Expo Center decided not to renew its lease.
Lisa Joyce, executive director of Willamette Art Center, said the lease will expire June 30.
The art center is looking for a new location in Salem and hopes to raise more than $200,000 for relocation costs, new building renovations and equipment.
"We have a lot of people who come here where it's a refuge," Joyce said. "They may be dealing with an illness, a health problem of a partner, their child with special needs, and they can come here, leave that behind and just have a relaxing time and create beautiful things."
Kim Grewe-Powell, chief executive officer of the Oregon State Fair and Expo Center, said in an email the fairgrounds needs full use of their facilities "to accommodate event operations and full growth of our business."
"With the continued growth of our organization, our business model has evolved," Grewe-Powell said. "As a result, our relationship with the Willamette Art Center no longer aligns with the needs of either party."
The art center mainly focuses on using clay and creating ceramics. It is open six days a week for classes, events, and open studio times for all ages.
Instructors teach handbuilding, raku, mindful sculpting and pottery wheel techniques.
Joyce said she was surprised and unprepared after learning the art center's lease would end.
She said the art center saw a 'big drop' in visitors during the Magic of Lights and Holiday Village events in December and noticed a change in their relationship with the fairgrounds as visitors could not park close to the building.
She said the fairgrounds now makes people pay to park, which she believes could turn away patrons, and fairgrounds events sometimes block access to the art center.
The art center saw around 9,800 visits in 2024. Joyce said that number is on the lesser side because events happening at the fairgrounds can disrupt people from going to the art center.
Post-pandemic, the art center saw visitors peak at 13,000 a year, with an average of more than 10,500, Joyce said.
If they have booths at an event, such as the Oregon State Fair, they can see peaks of more than 17,000 visitors a year.
Because of the challenges with finding a new space, the art center announced on its website it would not take part in the Marion County Fair, Englewood Forest Festival or hold its Empty Bowls event this year.
Empty Bowls is a fundraiser with pottery for sale that supports the Marion Polk Food Share and Willamette Art Center. The art center said it hopes to hold the event in 2026.
The art center said on its website spring classes will run in April and May and they hope to start classes again in the fall.
Joyce said they do not have any leads yet for a new location. She said she is excited to find a new building that can better cater to the art center's needs.
The new space would need to be between 4,000-6,000 square feet on a single level with modifiable plumbing, electric and gas kiln ventilation capacity.
The nonprofit will dispose of unneeded equipment in the next few months to prepare for the move.
Joyce said the fairgrounds will let them store as much equipment as they can in a one-story building but will need to find a temporary storage unit if they don't find a new location before the art center's lease ends.
Alexander Banks is an intern at the Statesman Journal. Reach him at [e-mail]
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon State Fairgrounds won't renew lease for Willamette Art Center