LANTERN
Library Street Collective co-founders Anthony & JJ Curis announced plans today to expand the footprint of their cultural plans in Detroit’s East Village neighborhood with the redevelopment of a mixed-use building which will serve as headquarters for two local arts non-profits, Signal-Return and PASC (Progressive Arts Studio Collective). The Curises have partnered with New York-based architectural firm OMA, led by Partner Jason Long, to transform the vacant 22,300 square foot building at 9301 Kercheval, formerly a commercial bakery built in the early 1900s, and realize this bold new paradigm for arts education and public space. Nicknamed ‘LANTERN’, the building will also include roughly 5,300 square feet of affordable artist studio spaces, an art gallery, and nearly 4,000 square feet of creative retail – all connected by a 2,000 square foot outdoor courtyard that will serve as an accessible community space and open-air lobby.
“The core of our mission in East Village is focused on creating an inclusive community centered around the arts. Progressive Art Studio Collective (PASC) and Signal-Return are two highly impactful nonprofits providing vital support and inspiration to the local arts community. We’re thrilled to welcome them to the neighborhood,” said Anthony Curis.
Two local arts nonprofits, PASC and Signal-Return, occupy roughly 8,500 square feet of combined space on the main level of the building. PASC, a program of the disability services organization STEP (Services to Enhance Po-tential), is the first art studio and exhibition program dedicated to supporting adults with developmental disabilities and mental health differences in Detroit and Wayne County to launch professional art careers. The new headquar-ters for PASC, which has served over 180 artists with disabilities to date, provides studio space, support from a staff of contemporary artists, and a gallery to showcase the work of PASC artists. Signal-Return is a nonprofit arts orga-nization dedicated to preserving and teaching traditional letterpress printing in Detroit. The new location provides an opportunity to expand its programming, which includes hands-on workshops, exhibitions, access to printing facilities for independent artists, and educational partnerships. The newly expanded retail store offers exposure and revenue for over 50 artists through the sale of prints, ephemera, and gifts. The gallery, located within the retail space, will present exhibitions related to Signal-Return’s programming.
Joining anchor tenants PASC and Signal-Return is a roster of local businesses, rounding out the mixed-use building and providing additional gathering spaces for the community. Assemble Sound is a full-service music company and recording studio working with cutting-edge musical talent in Detroit and beyond, with a residency program for artists, producers and songwriters. Founded in 2019 by Angela Wisniewski, Coup D’etat is a fashion boutique that offers an eclectic selection of independent designs catering primarily to women. The outdoor courtyard at LANTERN will be activated by Collect Beer Bar, a family-owned and operated establishment that serves a thoughtful selection of rotating craft brews, and Cafe Franco, a coffee shop and gathering space from the owners of La Ventana. Assemble Sound, Coup D’etat, Collect Beer Bar and Cafe Franco are anticipated to open by Fall 2024.
Three artist studio spaces have been added to the top floor of LANTERN. Inaugural artists include Akea Brionne, Davariz Broaden, and Paul Verdell, each of whom has deep roots in the City and has exhibited with Library Street Collective. Broaden is the first artist to participate in the DTW Arts Scholarship, a new artist residency program established by artist Tyrrell Winston to nurture Detroit-based talent. DTW Arts Scholarship provides its artists with studio space at the LANTERN for one year, monthly material stipends, and mentorship from Winston. Winston will collaborate with a different brand for each iteration to encourage interdisciplinary and cross-cultural conversations and has partnered with global fashion brand Stone Island for the 2024/2025 season.
OMA has transformed the former commercial bakery and warehouse to facilitate interaction and gathering amongst the diverse tenants and their activities. Taking advantage of the existing building’s state of disrepair, an area missing a roof and wall enclosure is preserved as an open courtyard and heart of the building. Tenants on the ground floor are organized around the courtyard, a shared gathering space and activity condenser.
While the courtyard offers a vibrant communal space within the building, strategic openings to the existing bricked or boarded up doors and windows broadcast activities out to the neighborhood while bringing light in. Gallery windows are extruded to become art vitrines and larger openings create indoor-outdoor potentials for production and events. The solid expanse of building’s southern facade is drilled with over 1,300 holes to subtly reveal light and movement within – at night, the new community arts hub becomes a glowing LANTERN.
“We are thrilled to see LANTERN open its doors and join the Little Village programming. Working with OMA and our partners, we’ve created a space that not only supports local businesses, artists, and non-profits, but also fosters inclusivity, education, and accessibility in the arts. We look forward to seeing LANTERN’s impact on the neighbor-hood and beyond,” Anthony and JJ Curis shared.