County Arts Council moving classes to Old Snell

POTSDAM — Boxes of fabric and other art supplies vie for space with folding chairs, soda bottles and other supplies in the sole classroom of the St. Lawrence County Arts Council.

But in a few months, that will all change.

The Council is moving its classroom to Clarkson University's Old Snell Hall and almost doubling its space sometime in April. Lease details are still being finalized, according to Hilary M. Oak, council executive director.

"This will really increase the number of classes we can offer during popular times like Saturdays or weeknights," Ms. Oak said. "Everybody who's been taking classes in this space has had a sigh of relief that we'll have more room to spread out."

In Old Snell, at the corner of Park and Elm streets, the council will have three classrooms: one for arts and crafts classes, another for dance, theater or music and a third for digital design, to help artists set up Web sites or make brochures. There also will be parking in a lot on Elm Street, rather than on the street or municipal spaces a block away.

The administrative offices, gallery space and gift shop will stay in the 51 Market St. location.

"This is kind of an interim space for people interested in dance and theater," said Kelly O. Chezum, Clarkson's vice president for external relations. "It's good to have the facility used. It's a beautiful building."

The Arts Council is still working on its plan to eventually move entirely into Clarkson's Damon Hall, which has been vacant for about 20 years. However, that move is a long time coming.

"It needs a lot of big things. It needs a new roof; it needs hazardous material remediation," Ms. Oak said. "It needs a lot before we can even begin making it into an art space."

Several funding applications, including one for a $2.5 million Restore New York grant, were denied last year and earlier this year. There are no applications pending, Ms. Oak said, to begin turning the 32,500-square-foot building into a center for the arts.

"We're just stepping back and taking a look at that project," she said. "All the investment in the studios we put into Old Snell will benefit Damon Hall. Those new tables and new mirrors that I buy will eventually go into Damon."

The 2,000-square-foot space on the second floor of Old Snell Hall will hold a variety of classes, from juggling to yoga to belly dancing. The council's building on Market Street is 1,800 square feet. The classroom on Market Street can comfortably hold only six to eight students, though as many as 12 have been crammed in, according to Ms. Oak.

"It's almost doubling our space and more than doubling our classroom space," she said. "We're very grateful to Clarkson in making the space available."

Old Snell houses a few small business startups, as well as Clarkson ROTC and the university's finance and human resources offices.