The Contemporary Dayton announces opening date inside the Dayton Arcade
Five galleries will be incorporated into new space that’s bigger.
The Contemporary Dayton confirmed Monday it will open April 30 in its new home: the historic Dayton Arcade.
The Contemporary Dayton, also known as The Co and formerly known as the Dayton Visual Arts
Center, will nearly double in size to 6,224 square feet at the new downtown location, with five galleries incorporated into the new space.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the first person walk into the gallery when it opens and see the space and the installation, and their jaw drops as they say, ‘Oh, wow,’” said Eva Buttacavoli, The Co’s executive director.
The largest of the galleries, at 2,348 square feet, will be dedicated to original contemporary art shows. Another, at 780 square feet, will showcase new work by local and Ohio artists, and a separate gallery will feature film and video.
A 74-foot-long wall will bisect the galleries, opening up an area for murals or “artists who work large,” Buttacavoli said. A smaller “jewel-box” gallery will be used for sculpture installations and special programs.
Behind storefront glass doors
opening into the Arcade’s rotunda will be an area that transforms into the annual Holiday Gift Gallery. The space will become a yearround art store and bookstore in 2022.
The move to the Dayton Arcade was the right fit “because it checked off all our boxes,” Buttacavoli said. “We can have more awareness and attention and give the community more.”
The Dayton Arcade provided The Co space to expand, more foot traffic and an opportunity to leverage relationships with the University of Dayton, Sinclair Community College and the city of Dayton, Buttacavoli said.
“DVAC and the Co have always championed helping advance Dayton artists and Ohio artists to the next level in their career and practice. We continue to do that. It’s a major part of our mission.”
The Dayton Visual Arts Center (DVAC) was formed in 1991 and moved to its current location at 118 N. Jefferson St. in 2006. In 2018, DVAC rebranded to The Contemporary Dayton.
The organization is in the final phase of a capital campaign that has raised nearly half of its $1,695,000 goal. Donations have come from individual donors and the Eichelberger Family Foundation and The Kettering Fund.
“I am simply ecstatic to share that despite the past long and winding year, we have reached a critical milestone,” Buttacavoli said.
“We now invite the entire community to join us by supporting the campaign so we can realize our vision to expand the definition of contemporary art for Dayton, serve larger and more diverse audiences, and become part of the arts, innovation, and entertainment hub at the reborn Dayton Arcade.”
The doors will open Friday, April 30, with a socially distanced members preview from 5:30 to 7 p.m. followed by an opening party from 7 to 10 p.m.
Opening weekend hours will be Saturday, May 1, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, May 2, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The gallery hours beginning May 3 will be Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. The galleries are closed Monday and Tuesday.
The inaugural exhibitions will feature three premieres, two produced exclusively for the opening. The exhibitions will feature the work of Dayton natives Zachary Armstrong, the late Curtis Barnes Sr. and Los Angeles filmmaker Cauleen Smith, artists who play a role in social-justice education, community building, and social activism. The Contemporary Dayton at the Dayton Arcade inaugural exhibitions will open April 30 and be on view through July 17.
“The Co has been around for 30 years, and we’ve built ourselves for the community, in the community, with the community,” Buttacavoli said. “People are passionate about what we do, how we serve artists and the contemporary art that we bring.”