CINCINNATI -- A Cincinnati-based hip hop arts organization providing programming to more than 200 local youth is making a short move up Race Street to the "revitalized Findlay Market District" early next year.
Elementz, which provides street dance, music and video production, poetry and visual arts programming to youth in Over-the-Rhine, is moving from 1100 Race St. to 1640 Race St. to be more centrally located and "to create a state-of-the art space that accommodates the unique needs of its art forms."
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"Our new location provides an opportunity to collaborate with new partners to energize the Findlay Market district of OTR and is a wonderful way to launch our 16th year of operation," said Tom Kent, Elementz managing director.
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The building is anchoring one portion of a new affordable housing project - Abington, Race and Pleasant, which is being developed by 3CDC, The Model Group and Cornerstone Renter Equity.
Elementz will move into the street-level commercial space at the corner of Race and Green streets, which features upgraded studios for producing music and video and a new performance space with lighting and sound systems.
In 2017, Elementz is celebrating its 15th anniversary of serving local Cincinnati youth. Through its history, the organization has served over 2,000 inner-city youth. Today, more than 90 percent of Elementz students graduate from high school and more than 50 percent go on to college.
"This will be the first time that Elementz will have a space that has been designed specifically for our program," said Abdullah Powell, Elementz creative director. "In this new home, we intend to continue our mission toward our city's creative inner-city youth, providing them with safe space to explore their talents, and being the supportive force that encourages them to actualize a career out of their creativity."
Elementz was founded and is supported by community stakeholders -- from various ethnicities, backgrounds and careers -- who believe in Cincinnati's youth and the power of music, poetry and art to positively impact our youth. The program includes artists, teachers and mentors who encourage self-discovery, creative expression and individual passion.
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