ANNOUNCER: TONIGHT ON SHOWCASE WITH BARBARA KELLAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CLIFTON CULTURAL ARTS CENTER, LESLIE MOONEY.

STAY TUNED.

SHOWCASE STARTS RIGHT NOW.

[MUSIC] KELLAR: HI.

WELCOME TO SHOWCASE AND OUR WONDERFUL GUEST TODAY WHO IS LESLIE MOONEY FROM THE CLIFTON CULTURAL ARTS CENTER.

MOONEY: YOU GOT IT.

KELLAR: I GOT THAT RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S GREAT.

SHE'S GOING TO TELL US WHAT'S GOING ON THERE, WHICH IS A LOT.

SO, LESLIE, FIRST OF ALL, TELL US HOW YOU ENDED UP AT THERE AND HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN THERE.

MOONEY: ABSOLUTELY, YES.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

AND I'M THRILLED TO BE TALKING WITH YOU.

SO, WE ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR ABOUT, LET'S SEE, 16 YEARS OR SO, THE CLIFTON CULTURAL ARTS CENTER.

I STARTED THERE JUST ABOUT FIVE YEARS INTO THEIR TENURE.

SO, I WAS THE SECOND ED, REALLY ONE OF THE FIRST THREE OR SO EMPLOYEES.

AND SO I'VE BEEN THERE ALMOST 11 YEARS.

IT'LL BE 11 YEARS THIS OCTOBER.

KELLAR: THAT'S A LONG TENURE.

MOONEY: YES.

AND IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL.

I ACTUALLY WHEN I BEGAN THAT POSITION IN 2013, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION JUST BECAUSE WE WERE LOCATED IN THE OLD CLIFTON SCHOOL BUILDING.

KELLAR: I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THAT.

I THOUGHT IT WAS EITHER A SCHOOL OR A CHURCH, BUT I KNEW IT WAS ONE OF THOSE.

LET'S DIGRESS FOR JUST A SECOND.

IT'S ON CLIFTON AVENUE.

MOONEY: YES.

KELLAR: IF YOU'RE COMING, IF YOU'VE COME FROM UC, AWAY FROM UC AND YOU'RE STILL GOING DOWN CLIFTON AVENUE AND YOU JUST KEEP ON GOING.

MOONEY: SO WE'RE IN A NEW BUILDING NOW.

SO THIS IS THE ROLLER COASTER RIDE WE'VE BEEN ON.

SO WHEN I STARTED IN 2013, YES, WE WERE IN THE 50,000 SQUARE FOOT 1906 HISTORIC SCHOOL BUILDING.

BUT THEN IN 2018, WE ACTUALLY HAD TO MOVE OUT BECAUSE CINCINNATI PUBLIC OWNED THE BUILDING AND THEY NEEDED TO TURN IT BACK INTO A SCHOOL.

YES, EXACTLY.

SO, BUT WE ENDED UP BEING IN A VERY SIMILAR PLACE TO WHAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED.

WE'RE STILL ON CLIFTON AVENUE.

WE'RE JUST A LITTLE BIT NORTH OF UC, ACTUALLY AT THE LUDLOW AND CLIFTON AVENUE INTERSECTION.

SO RIGHT IN THE BUSINESS DISTRICT THERE.

AND WE JUST OPENED IN MARCH IN THAT BUILDING, BRAND NEW $11 MILLION, 18,000 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY.

IT'S BRIGHT AND SHINY AND WONDERFUL.

AND SO IN THE INTERIM, WE WERE KIND OF ALL OVER THE PLACE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN I STARTED IT WAS, IT WAS BUILDING THIS COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER THAT THE COMMUNITY HAD REALLY RALLIED AROUND SAVING THIS BUILDING AND FILLING IT WITH ART EXHIBITIONS AND PERFORMANCES AND CLASSES AND CONCERTS, ALL KINDS OF FUN STUFF.

AND SO THAT'S SORT OF THE TRAIN WE WERE ON, RIGHT?

MOONEY: WE WERE GOING IN THAT DIRECTION.

AND THEN WHEN WE GOT THE NEWS FROM CPS THAT WE WOULD NEED TO LEAVE THE BUILDING, IT REALLY BECAME THEN MORE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DO WE CONTINUE A LOT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT?

BY THAT POINT IN TIME, THOUGH, WE'D BEEN SERVING ABOUT 40,000 PEOPLE A YEAR.

SO WE KNEW THAT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE COMMUNITY WAS REALLY UTILIZING, THAT THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, INTERESTED IN, IN CONTINUING TO HAVE AS PART OF, NOT JUST CLIFTON, BUT REALLY ALL OF THE WHAT WE SAY IS THE UPTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS, RIGHT?

SO THE AVONDALE AND MOUNT AUBURN AND CUF AND POINTS SURROUNDING.

SO ANYWAY, SO THEN IT BECAME A LOT ABOUT CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING AND ABOUT REAL ESTATE, YOU KNOW, JUST TRYING TO FIND A SITE AND ENDED UP THAT WE ACTUALLY WORKED OUT A PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH DEWEY'S PIZZA, WHO OWNED A PARCEL OF LAND RIGHT THERE ON CLIFTON AVENUE.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO BUY THE LAND FROM THEM AND THEN BUILD THIS BUILDING FROM SCRATCH, WHICH HAS BEEN, I MEAN, I NEVER KNEW I WANTED TO BE A PART OF THAT, BUT IT'S FANTASTIC TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE VISION AND THEN TO SEE THE VISION COME TO LIFE.

KELLAR: IS THIS A LITTLE BIT BEYOND SKYLINE?

MOONEY: IT IS.

KELLAR: OKAY.

SKYLINE IS ON ONE SIDE, ADRIAN FLORIST IS ON THE OTHER.

AND THEN YOU'RE JUST A LITTLE BEYOND.

MOONEY: THAT'S RIGHT.

KELLAR: OKAY.

I WAS SITTING HERE THINKING, WHERE IS THAT?

YEAH, RIGHT WHERE IT IS.

MOONEY: YOU KNOW, YOU GOT IT EXACTLY.

SO, YEAH, IT WAS JUST AN EMPTY LOT.

THERE HAD BEEN, I THINK YEARS AND YEARS AGO, LIKE MAYBE 20 YEARS AGO A FUNERAL HOME ACTUALLY IS WHAT MOST PEOPLE REMEMBER THERE.

BUT THEN THAT HAD BURNED DOWN.

SO IT'S REALLY JUST BEEN SITTING VACANT FOR, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF DECADES.

SO NOW WE'VE -- KELLAR: YOU BUILT YOUR OWN BUILDING.

MOONEY: THAT'S RIGHT.

KELLAR: WOW, FROM SCRATCH.

MOONEY: YES.

KELLAR: SO DID YOU GET TO HAVE THE INPUT?

MOONEY: OH, YEAH.

YEAH.

YES.

I ALWAYS, I MEAN, IT'S KIND OF A JOKE NOW THAT I SAY I HAVE NEVER SO MUCH AS RENOVATED A KITCHEN.

SO IT WAS A BIG LEAP TOO, BUT WE HAD A FANTASTIC ARCHITECT.

WE WORKED WITH IMMERSION DESIGN AND WE HIRED SKANSKA AS OUR CONSTRUCTION FIRM, AND THEY WERE JUST BOTH SPECTACULAR.

AND OF COURSE, WE HAD AN OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE WHO HAS WORKED ON PROJECTS AT THE ART MUSEUM AND THE DUKE ENERGY CONVENTION CENTER.

SO I WAS IN REALLY GOOD HANDS.

AND LIKE I SAID, WE DID A LOT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, I MEAN, BASICALLY TO SAY, "OKAY, GOOD NEWS, WE'VE HAD TEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE, YOU KNOW, PARTICIPATED IN THINGS AT CCAC TO KNOW WHAT WE WANT TO BUILD FOR THE FUTURE."

AND SO WE DID A TON OF THAT OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

AND THAT REALLY INFORMED THE DESIGN OF THE SPACE.

SO IT WAS GREAT.

KELLAR: SO, NOW CONTINUE BACK WHERE WE WERE.

NOW THAT WE HAVE YOU PLACED ON OUR MINDS.

MOONEY: YES, YES.

YEAH.

SO WHAT DO WE DO OR HOW DID I GET THERE?

KELLAR: YEAH, HOW DID YOU GET THERE FIRST AND THEN WHAT DO YOU DO?

MOONEY: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I'M NOT FROM CINCINNATI ORIGINALLY, BUT MY HUSBAND AND I MOVED HERE FROM BOSTON, MOSTLY FOR MY JOB AT THE NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER.

AND IT'S KIND OF CLOSER TO WHERE I GREW UP IN KENTUCKY.

AND SO ANYWAY, YEAH, I STARTED WORKING AT THE FREEDOM CENTER, AND THEN WE MOVED TO CLIFTON.

WE MOVED TO THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, AND THEN THIS JOB BECAME AVAILABLE, AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, WHAT A REALLY WONDERFUL PLACE.

WE'D BEEN TO SOME THINGS THERE.

WE'D TAKEN OUR YOUNG KIDS AT THE TIME TO MUSIC CLASSES AND TO OUTDOOR CONCERTS ON THE LAWN.

AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, KNOWING THE POWER OF THE ARTS IN PEOPLE'S LIVES, PARTICULARLY PEOPLE WHO DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ACCESS OR DON'T CONSIDER THEMSELVES ARTISTS OR ARTS PEOPLE.

THE ATTRACTION OF A COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER THAT'S SO ACCESSIBLE, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, SUCH A LOW BARRIER TO ENTRY.

YOU KNOW, NOT SOME SORT OF, LIKE, LOFTY ARTS, BUT REALLY, REALLY TANGIBLE ARTS WAS REALLY APPEALING TO ME.

SO, YEAH.

KELLAR: HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE ON YOUR STAFF?

MOONEY: WELL, WE'VE GROWN SINCE WE MOVED INTO THIS NEW BUILDING.

FOR A LONG TIME THERE WERE ABOUT THREE OF US, BUT WE ARE NOW AT SEVEN FULL TIME AND SEVERAL PART TIME.

SO YES, WE'RE WE'RE GROWING AND IT'S NEEDED.

THIS SUMMER WE HAVE, GOSH, WE'LL PROBABLY END UP SERVING SEVERAL, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF SUMMER CAMPERS FOR VISUAL ARTS CAMPS.

AND SO THERE'S JUST A TON GOING ON.

KELLAR: AND DO YOU HAVE SUMMER INTERNS?

MOONEY: WELL, WE HAVE SOME INTERNS.

WE GET A LOT OF INTERNS FROM UC, WHICH IS GREAT, JUST HAVING DAAP AND MFA.

KELLAR: GREAT EXPERIENCE.

MOONEY: RIGHT UP THE ROAD.

YEAH, IT'S BEEN GREAT.

AND ART ACADEMY TOO.

AND SO AND EVEN XAVIER AND CINCINNATI STATE, WE'VE HAD WONDERFUL STUDENTS FROM ALL OF THOSE COLLEGES.

BUT WE ALSO HIRE PART TIME STUDENTS QUITE A BIT, YOU KNOW, AND PAY THEM AND, YEAH.

AND SO THEN WE HAVE SOME FANTASTIC FULL TIME STAFF THAT EVERYBODY'S JUST REALLY PASSIONATE.

AND IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO WORK.

KELLAR: YEAH.

WELL, TELL US WHAT ALL YOU DO.

MOONEY: OH, MY GOODNESS.

WELL, IT'S A TRUE MULTIDISCIPLINARY COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER, RIGHT?

AND THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT ACTUALLY WHEN WE WERE WE WERE DESIGNING THE BUILDING IS, YOU KNOW, SHOULD WE SPECIALIZE IN THEATER OR SHOULD WE SPECIALIZE IN EXHIBITIONS OR EVEN JUST CLASSES, EDUCATION?

AND OVERWHELMINGLY WE HEARD, YOU KNOW, THE NICE THING, THE REALLY GREAT THING ABOUT CCAC IS THE CROSS-POLLINATION AND THE ABILITY TO SORT OF DABBLE IN DIFFERENT THINGS AND GET EXPOSURE TO DIFFERENT ART FORMS AND ARTS.

SO WE HAVE A WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL EXHIBITION SPACE.

SO WE USUALLY HAVE ANYWHERE FROM 12-20 EXHIBITIONS A YEAR, TWO FLOOR, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT SPACES FOR ART SHOWS.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE SEVERAL CLASSROOMS AND WE HAVE CLASSES THAT, OH MY GOSH, RUN THE GAMUT FROM UKULELE TO TAI CHI TO LOTS OF DANCE, DIFFERENT DANCE FORMS, TAP, SALSA, AFROBEAT.

SO WE'VE, I MEAN, REALLY HONESTLY, THAT'S ONE OF THE GREATEST THINGS ABOUT THESE CCAC IS THAT WE JUST SORT OF -- PEOPLE COME TO US WITH AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY WANT TO TEACH.

AND WE JUST WE'RE ABLE TO KIND OF BE NIMBLE AND RUN WITH IT.

AND THEN WE DO IN OUR NEW SPACE, HAVE ABOUT A 200 SEAT THEATER.

SO NOT HUGE, BUT -- KELLAR: BUT 200, THAT'S THAT'S THE ENSEMBLE THEATER.

MOONEY: YEAH.

SO I MEAN, IT'S AND IT'S VERY FLEXIBLE SPACE.

WE HAVE A WALL WE CAN PULL OUT IF WE NEED TO USE IT FOR CLASSROOM SPACE, BUT WE ALSO CAN EXPAND IT AND HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, PULL OUT SEATING WHERE PEOPLE CAN SIT AND, YEAH.

SO WE'VE HOSTED, WE ARE ONE OF MADCAP PUPPETS,\ YOU KNOW, SPOTS TO COME TO AND PERFORM FOR THE COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE A RESIDENT IMPROV TROUPE THAT PERFORMS IN OUR SPACE.

SO, IT AGAIN, YEAH, IT'S VERY -- IT'S VARIED.

AND THEN WE ALSO THE SORT OF FEATHER IN THE CAP IN THE NEW BUILDING IS OUR OCCUPIABLE ROOF.

SO WE HAVE A GREEN ROOF, WHICH IS BEAUTIFUL.

IT'S ALL FLOWERING RIGHT NOW AND BUT THEN LOTS OF OCCUPIABLE SPACE WHERE WE CAN HAVE, WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE SOME OUTDOOR CONCERTS THIS FALL.

AND THEN WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW, HOSTED A FEW PARTIES UP THERE ALREADY.

SO, IT'S JUST A GOOD COMMUNITY SPACE AND IT'S REALLY UNIQUE IN THE AREA.

IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S FOUR STORIES UP AND IT'S GOT BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF THE AREA.

SO THAT'S REALLY GREAT.

AND THEN THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS WE DO A LOT OF CREATIVE PLACEMAKING WORK AS WELL, ESPECIALLY WHILE WE WERE OUT OF A PERMANENT HOME.

WE REALLY GOT ADEPT AT TAKING ARTS ACTIVITIES, AND MOSTLY CONCERTS, BUT LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS OUT INTO PUBLIC PARKS, BUSINESS DISTRICTS.

BUT THIS SUMMER WE'LL HAVE OUR 16TH YEAR OF FREE SUMMER WEDNESDAY EVENING CONCERTS.

KELLAR: OH, MY GOSH.

WONDERFUL MOONEY: THAT RUNS ALL SUMMER.

KELLAR: IN YOUR 200 SEAT THEATER?

MOONEY: NO, IT'LL BE OUTSIDE.

WE DO IT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CINCINNATI PUBLIC PARK -- OR CINCINNATI PARKS AT BURNET WOODS PARK.

SO REALLY, JUST A STONE'S THROW AWAY FROM OUR NEW BUILDING.

AND YEAH, WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING WITH THEM FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS OR SO.

WHEN WE WERE IN THE OLD BUILDING, WE WOULD HAVE IT ON THE FRONT LAWN.

BUT NOW IF WE DO GET RAINED OUT, NOW WE'LL HAVE A NICE, BEAUTIFUL THEATER TO MOVE INTO.

KELLAR: YES.

MOONEY: SO THAT IS EXCITING, BUT YEAH, THE CONCERTS ARE AWESOME.

THEY'RE ONE OF OUR BIGGEST AND, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY MOST WELL-KNOWN THING THAT WE DO.

KELLAR: ARE THESE SYMPHONY CONCERTS OR?

MOONEY: THEY ARE, NO, ALL KINDS OF DIVERSE GENRES.

SO WE DO SOMETIMES HAVE BIG BAND, BUT WE ALSO HAVE USUALLY A SALSA NIGHT.

WE'LL HAVE SINGER SONGWRITERS, WE'LL HAVE RHYTHM AND BLUES.

I MEAN IT'S REALLY WE TRY -- IT'S 11 WEEKS.

SO EVERY WEEK HAS A DIFFERENT FLAVOR, DIFFERENT THING.

KELLAR: ARE THERE OTHER PLACES IN THE CITY THAT WOULD BE SIMILAR?

I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING THAT IS AS GOOD AS, BUT THERE'S AN ARTS CENTER IN KENNEDY HEIGHTS.

WOULD THAT BE THE SAME GOAL?

THE SAME-- MOONEY: YEAH, IT'S VERY SIMILAR COMMUNITY ARTS CENTERS.

THERE ARE A HANDFUL, AND HONESTLY, WE'VE ALL WORKED REALLY WELL TOGETHER.

SEVERAL OF US KIND OF CAME UP TOGETHER IN A WAY.

KENNEDY HEIGHTS CENTER STARTED AROUND THE SAME TIME AS CCAC.

THERE'S ALSO THE CARNEGIE IN COVINGTON.

KELLAR: OF COURSE.

MOONEY: WHICH HAS BEEN AROUND A LITTLE LONGER.

THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, 1980S PROBABLY.

AND THEN THERE'S SOME A LITTLE BIT FARTHER OUT, LIKE WYOMING, THE FITTON CENTER IN HAMILTON, OHIO.

THAT'S KIND OF THE SAME, SAME IDEA WHERE IT'S VERY MULTIDISCIPLINARY.

YOU KNOW, WE ALL HAVE ART GALLERIES, BUT WE ALSO HAVE CLASSES AND SUMMER CAMPS.

KELLAR: SO KIDS CAN COME THERE AFTER SCHOOL?

MOONEY: YES, YEAH.

KELLAR: LEARN OR ENJOY PAINTING OR WHATEVER THE CRAFTS ARE?

MOONEY: YEAH.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE WERE MOST EXCITED ABOUT FOR THE NEW BUILDING IS WE PUT IN WHAT WE'RE CALLING A MAKE SHOP.

AND SO, I MEAN, LITERALLY, WHEN I LEFT IN SUMMER CAMPS WERE GOING ON THIS AFTERNOON, WE HAVE A GARAGE DOOR THAT WAS LIFTED UP.

AND SO THE KIDS WERE OUT, KIND OF SPREAD ON THE PATIO WITH SOME OF THEIR PROJECTS.

AND BUT YEAH, IT HAS 3D PRINTERS AND IT ALSO HAS A REALLY NICE BIG KILN AND SEVERAL SMALLER KILNS.

AND SO THE WHOLE IDEA IS THAT, YOU KNOW, REALLY GIVING KIDS, BUT ALSO ADULTS, A PLACE TO EXPLORE AND, YOU KNOW, USE THEIR HANDS AND MAKE THINGS.

KELLAR: ARE THERE CHARGES INVOLVED WITH ANYTHING?

MOONEY: OCCASIONALLY, YES, THERE ARE.

SO WE HAVE FREE AND OPEN STUDIO HOURS THAT ARE ALL ON OUR WEBSITE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE CLASSES WHERE WE HAVE MORE INSTRUCTION BASED AND THOSE, OF COURSE, HAVE A FEE TO PAY THE INSTRUCTOR.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE STARTED SOMETHING WE CALL FAIR SHARE PRICING.

SO A LOT OF OUR CLASSES ARE KIND OF A SLIDING SCALE BECAUSE WE DEFINITELY WANT TO MAKE SURE -- KELLAR: EVERYBODY CAN DO IT.

MOONEY: THAT'S RIGHT.

KELLAR: SO WHEN KIDS COME IN THERE THEY CAN -- THERE'S A FEE, BUT A SMALL ONE.

MOONEY: YES, YES.

KELLAR: YEAH, I THINK, I MEAN, IT JUST SOUNDS FANTASTIC.

I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU WHAT YOU PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE GOT EVERYTHING.

YOU'VE ALREADY MET THE FUTURE.

MOONEY: WE HAVE, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE FUTURE REALLY FOR US, I MEAN, NOW THAT WE HAVE THIS SPACE IS, AND IT IS, IT'S VERY VIBRANT AND THERE'S STUFF HAPPENING ALL THE TIME.

BUT I THINK JUST CONTINUING TO DO MORE AND TO GROW, I MEAN, I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SEE US REALLY FILL OUT ALL OF THE SPACES, YOU KNOW, REALLY ALL DAY.

I MEAN, THAT MIGHT BE AMBITIOUS, BUT WE EVEN HAVE A THRIVING, YOU KNOW, DURING THE WORKDAY WEEKDAY, NOT EVEN IN THE SUMMER, BUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF ACTIVITIES AND THINGS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR FOLKS WHO ARE RETIRED OR HAVE A FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULE.

BUT I'D LOVE TO SEE EVEN MORE OF THAT, YOU KNOW?

SO THAT BECAUSE IT GETS -- DEFINITELY GETS REALLY BUSY AT ABOUT 5:30 UNTIL ABOUT 10 P.M. ON WEEKNIGHTS, AND ON SATURDAYS WE'RE BUSY ALL DAY.

BUT EVEN MORE OF THAT, LIKE, JUST MORE GROWTH AND GETTING MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED.

KELLAR: YEAH.

DO YOU HAVE SPECIAL PROGRAMS JUST IN THE SUMMER FOR THE KIDS?

MOONEY: WE DO.

WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLY ROBUST SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM GOING ON, AND IN ADDITION TO OUR OUTDOOR CONCERTS, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST AT BURNET WOODS, BUT WE ALSO PARTNER WITH INWOOD PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

KELLAR: WHERE IS THAT?

MOONEY: INWOOD PARK IS ON VINE STREET, SO IF YOU WERE GOING AWAY FROM UC KIND OF AREA, YOU WOULD GO DOWN VINE AND IT'S TECHNICALLY IN MOUNT AUBURN, THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO YEAH, BUT AND YOU CAN ACCESS IT UP CLOSER TO KIND OF WHERE THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD OFFICES AND THERE'S KIND OF THAT SIDE.

KELLAR: NEAR THE HOSPITALS?

MOONEY: YEAH.

NEXT TO -- KELLAR: CHRIST?

MOONEY: YES, CHRIST.

YES, EXACTLY.

IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO CHRIST.

AND, YEAH.

SO WE HAVE SATURDAY MORNING CONCERTS THERE THAT ARE COMPLETELY FREE.

AND WE HAVE -- AND THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE VERY FAMILY FRIENDLY.

SO, YOU KNOW, NOT SPECIFIC TO KIDS, BUT VERY MUCH INTENDED FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.

SO, BUT YEAH, BUT SUMMER CAMPS ARE A HUGE THING FOR US AS WELL, SO IT'LL KEEP US BUSY ALL SUMMER.

KELLAR: YEAH.

SO, DO YOU HAVE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?

YOU CAN'T THINK ABOUT EXPANDING, I MEAN.

MOONEY: YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY THAT WE'VE ALREADY BEEN ASKED IF WE'RE GOING TO DO A SORT OF A SKY ZONE OVER THE, YOU KNOW, SKYLINE PARKING LOT OR SOMETHING.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S DAUNTING TO THINK ABOUT RIGHT NOW AFTER, YOU KNOW.

KELLAR: YEAH, YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO GET IT TO ITS OPTIMUM OF WHAT IS ALREADY THERE.

MOONEY: THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

KELLAR: YEAH.

BUT YOU WERE ABLE TO BRING ALL YOUR STUFF, YOUR STUFF FROM THE OTHER SPACE IN CLIFTON TO HERE.

MOONEY: YEAH.

AND WE'LL BE RESTARTING.

I MEAN, THERE WERE SOME THINGS, LIKE, FOR INSTANCE, WE DIDN'T HAVE A THEATER IN OUR TEMPORARY SPOT, SO WE HAD HAD A REALLY ROBUST CHILDREN'S THEATRICAL SERIES CALLED SECOND SUNDAY FAMILY SHOWTIME.

WE HAD IT EVERY SECOND SUNDAY OF THE MONTH, AND WE HAD TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, PUT THAT ON HOLD WHILE WE WERE OUT.

SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO RESTARTING THAT THIS FALL.

WE'LL START THAT BACK UP IN SEPTEMBER.

SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS LIKE THAT THAT WE ARE, YEAH, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE ROOFTOP NOW, RIGHT.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.

SO WE'LL HAVE ROOFTOP SESSIONS IS WHAT WE'RE CALLING IT.

AGAIN, THAT'S GOING TO BE A FALL, YOU KNOW, THINK JAZZ OR SMALLER TRIOS, DUOS OF MUSICIANS PLAYING ON OUR ROOFTOP.

WE JUST GOT OUR LIQUOR LICENSE, SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO INCORPORATE THAT INTO THE EXHIBIT OPENINGS AND INTO THE CONCERTS.

AND SO, YEAH, LOTS OF FUN.

KELLAR: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS?

MOONEY: HMM, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I MEAN, WE, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN THAT KIND OF GROWING PAINS AREA WHERE I TALKED ABOUT OUR GROWTH OF STAFF.

BUT THERE'S ALWAYS THAT BALANCE OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE CART AND THE HORSE OF, YOU KNOW, HIRING MORE TO DO MORE.

BUT WE, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO NEED TO DO MORE SO THAT WE CAN, YOU KNOW, THE BUDGET HAS TO ALWAYS BALANCE AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.

KELLAR: THAT ALL HAS TO WORK INTO FUNDRAISING.

DO YOU HAVE TO DO FUNDRAISING?

WHO WHO ARE -- WHERE IS MOST OF YOUR FUNDING?

MOONEY: YEAH, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

YEAH.

YOU KNOW A LOT ABOUT THIS, I KNOW.

KELLAR: YEAH.

FUNDING, I ALWAYS ASK THIS QUESTION BECAUSE PEOPLE FORGET THAT IT TAKES MONEY TO RUN THESE THINGS AND TO HAVE THESE THINGS.

AND THE PEOPLE WHO HELP, THE INDIVIDUALS WHO HELP ARE SO IMPORTANT.

BUT THE CITY -- DOES THE CITY?

MOONEY: SO, WE WERE ACTUALLY, WE WERE REALLY FORTUNATE TO GET SOME CAPITAL FUNDING FROM THE CITY.

BUT NOT SO MUCH OPERATING.

SO ARTSWAVE, OF COURSE, WE'RE A RECIPIENT OF ARTSWAVE FUNDING AND THE OHIO ARTS COUNCIL.

BUT THAT ACCOUNTS FOR A RELATIVELY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL BUDGET.

SO WE DO ABSOLUTELY, YOU KNOW, RELY ON INDIVIDUALS.

THAT'S OUR PRIMARY SOURCE OF PHILANTHROPIC FUNDING.

AND WE ARE FORTUNATE, AD THIS IS ONE REASON, FRANKLY, I TOOK THIS JOB 11 YEARS AGO IS THAT IT'S A IT'S A PRETTY BALANCED TRIANGLE.

YOU KNOW, THE PYRAMID OF DONORS WE HAVE -- KELLAR: LIKE THE FOOD CHART.

MOONEY: THAT'S RIGHT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF DONORS AT THAT, YOU KNOW, $100 TO $1000 RANGE.

KELLAR: DO YOU HAVE MEMBERSHIPS THAT PEOPLE PAY?

MOONEY: WE DO NOT.

WE HAVE NOT HAD A MEMBERSHIP SYSTEM, REALLY, MOSTLY BECAUSE SO MUCH OF WHAT WE DO IS FREE ALREADY AND OR, YOU KNOW, VERY LOW COST THAT IT DOESN'T -- THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE KIND OF WHAT OUR CLIENTELE IS LOOKING FOR.

BUT, YEAH, SO WE RAISE MONEY, OF COURSE, WE GET A LITTLE BIT FROM CORPORATIONS, SOME FROM FOUNDATIONS, INDIVIDUALS.

AND THEN WE DO HAVE, YEAH, WE HAVE SOME, LIKE, SUMMER CAMP FEES AND SOME OTHER FEES INVOLVED.

KELLAR: WHERE YOU HAVE TO HIRE SOMEBODY TO TEACH THE CLASS.

MOONEY: RIGHT, RIGHT.

WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO PAY OUR ARTISTS, OF COURSE.

KELLAR: YEAH, PEOPLE FORGET ARTISTS HAVE TO EAT ALSO.

MOONEY: THEY DO, THEY DO, AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY AS WE ALL OF THIS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND EVERYTHING, BUT IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT HUMANS CONTINUE TO FOSTER THEIR CREATIVITY.

AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE OVERARCHING, YOU KNOW, GOAL OF CCAC, IN ADDITION TO BRINGING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER, PARTICULARLY OUR REALLY WHERE WE ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY, IT'S JUST SO DIVERSE AND IT'S WONDERFUL.

KELLAR: OH, IT'S A FABULOUS LOCATION, REALLY, FOR AN ARTS CENTER OR AN EDUCATION CENTER.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT THERE.

DOES UC THROW IN ANY HELP IF YOU NEED IT?

MOONEY: UM, THEY I MEAN, OTHER THAN STUDENTS AND THEY ARE REALLY I MEAN, THEY'RE EXCELLENT.

KELLAR: I BET THERE WOULD BE STUDENTS WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO COME AND DO A, YOU KNOW, CONDUCT A CLASS OR WHATEVER.

MOONEY: ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH.

WELL, AND WHEN WE WERE UP ON SHORT VINE IN THE INTERIM RENTING SPACE ACTUALLY FROM UC AND, YES, THERE WERE SOME REALLY FANTASTIC UC STUDENTS THAT CAME IN AND, AND HELPED US OUT A LOT.

SO, YES.

AND THEN I THINK, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF FUNDING, WE DO STILL HAVE A LITTLE GAP.

SO, WE'RE WE HAVE ABOUT $11 MILLION BUILDING AND WE HAVE ABOUT $500,000 LEFT TO CLOSE THERE.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M WORKING ON A LOT THESE DAYS, OF COURSE, IS JUST CLOSING THAT LAST LITTLE BIT.

BUT UM, BUT YEAH, THE BUILDING IS BUILT.

WE'RE IN, AND LIFE IS CRAZY.

KELLAR: I NEED TO PAY ATTENTION WHEN I GO PAST THERE BECAUSE I'M IN CLIFTON A LOT.

I'LL PAY MORE ATTENTION TO YOU, TO YOUR BUILDING.

BUT, DID -- WAS YOUR EDUCATION IN ART?

MOONEY: OH, THAT'S FUN.

A FUNNY QUESTION.

NO, IT WAS NOT.

BUT I WAS, I WENT TO GEORGETOWN COLLEGE, A SMALL LIBERAL ARTS SCHOOL IN KENTUCKY, AND I DID DO THEATER THERE.

SO I WON A THEATER SCHOLARSHIP.

AND SO THAT WAS SORT OF MY ART FORM.

BUT NO, I HAVE A MASTER'S DEGREE IN HISTORY.

KELLAR: IN HISTORY?

GREAT.

HOW HOW COULD YOU MELD THAT INTO THE PROGRAM?

MOONEY: WELL, I MEAN, SO I HAVE, AND I HAVE, MY GOSH, EVERYBODY IN MY FAMILY IS A SINGER OR, YOU KNOW, A PERFORMER OF SOME KIND.

AND SO THERE'S THAT PART OF MY SORT OF PERSONAL BACKGROUND.

AND THEN PROFESSIONALLY, I MEAN, I REALLY WENT STRAIGHT FROM GRADUATE SCHOOL TO WORKING IN NONPROFITS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, PRETTY QUICKLY MOVED INTO FUNDRAISING AND MANAGEMENT.

I WAS AT THE FREEDOM CENTER WHEN WE MERGED WITH THE CINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, LEARNED A LOT ABOUT BUDGETING AND MARKETING AND REALLY ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO RUN ANY ORGANIZATION, BUT PARTICULARLY A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.

AND SO IT WAS, YOU KNOW, MORE ABOUT, AND IT'S SO FUNNY AND SORT OF IRONIC THAT WE WERE, WHEN I TOOK THE JOB AT CCAC, WE WERE IN THE HISTORIC CLIFTON SCHOOL BUILDING.

AND A BIG PART OF MY JOB WAS ABOUT PRESERVING THAT BUILDING.

KELLAR: YEAH.

MOONEY: YOU KNOW, RAISING MONEY, YES, BUT ALSO JUST MAKING SURE, BECAUSE IT WAS PART OF THE HISTORIC REGISTER.

AND I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

KELLAR: I REMEMBER THERE WAS A BIG -- THERE WAS A LOT OF -- MOONEY: YES, A LITTLE CONSTERNATION.

YEAH.

YEAH.

KELLAR: WELL, IT ALWAYS IS WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HISTORICAL PRESERVATION.

THERE'S ALWAYS SEVERAL OPINIONS ABOUT THAT.

MOONEY: RIGHT, RIGHT.

WELL, I MEAN, YEAH.

AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY EVER THOUGHT ABOUT TEARING IT DOWN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, CPS HAD KNOWN THAT THEY WERE LEAVING THAT BUILDING FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

SO THERE WAS A LOT OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND JUST A LOT, I MEAN, SO THE MY PREDECESSOR AND THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, DID THE LION'S SHARE OF THE WORK OF REALLY PRESERVING THAT BUILDING, THAT SPACE FOR REALLY FOR EVERYONE, AND CERTAINLY NOW FOR THE STUDENTS THAT ARE OCCUPYING IT.

SO, SO THAT WAS PART OF THE DRAW TOO, WAS LIKE, "OH, I CAN KIND OF MELD MY COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, CENTRIC IDEAS, ARTS, WHAT LITTLE BACKGROUND I HAVE IN ARTS, AND MY MANAGEMENT AND MY LOVE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION."

YEAH.

AND SO BUT, YEAH.

KELLAR: WELL, IF YOU HAD A WISH LIST, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT?

MOONEY: OH, MY GOODNESS.

IF I HAD A WISH LIST.

WELL, I MEAN, I WOULD WISH FOR -- I WOULD WISH FOR A VERY STEADY STREAM OF FUNDING THAT WAS NOT AS VOLATILE AS SOMETIMES FUNDRAISING CAN BE.

KELLAR: OR UNRELIABLE?

MOONEY: YES, ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST UP AND DOWN AND YOU'RE KIND OF AT THE WHIMS OF.

I MEAN, WE LEARNED THAT CERTAINLY DURING COVID AND ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE.

KELLAR: DID YOU HAVE TO SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY?

MOONEY: WE DID NOT.

WE WERE IN A PRETTY GOOD POSITION FINANCIALLY.

BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, I THINK POSSIBLY, PARTLY BECAUSE WE HAD BEEN UPENDED FROM THE OLD CLIFTON SCHOOL BUILDING.

WE WERE SORT OF ALREADY IN PIVOT MODE.

WE HAD ALREADY PIVOTED, SO WE WERE A LITTLE MORE NIMBLE AND WE WERE ALREADY DOING SO MUCH OUTSIDE.

SO IT WAS WE KIND OF HAD ALREADY -- KELLAR: THAT HELPED.

MOONEY: YEAH, WE HAD ALREADY SORT OF FIGURED THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT.

SO NO, WE REALLY -- I JOKE, I MEAN, I HAVE FOUR YOUNG CHILDREN, SO.

KELLAR: OF YOUR OWN?

OH, DEAR.

MOONEY: SO, I DIDN'T REALLY WANT TO BE HOME ANYWAY, SO I WENT BACK TO THE OFFICE.

KELLAR: RIGHT.

HOW OLD ARE THEY?

MOONEY: WELL, NOW THEY ARE 13, 11, 9 AND 6.

KELLAR: AND HOW OLD WERE THEY WHEN YOU STARTED?

MOONEY: WELL, TWO OF THEM WEREN'T EVEN BORN.

KELLAR: YOU'VE HAD TWO CHILDREN SINCE YOU STARTED ALL THIS?

MOONEY: THEY WERE 3 AND 1.

KELLAR: WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

YES.

YEAH.

YOU MUST HAVE LOTS OF LEISURE.

MOONEY: YEAH.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

KELLAR: WHERE DO THEY GO TO SCHOOL, IN CLIFTON?

MOONEY: THEY DO.

WELL, THE TWO YOUNGEST ARE AT FAIRVIEW CLIFTON GERMAN LANGUAGE SCHOOL.

YEAH.

AND THEN THE TWO OLDER ONES ARE AT WALNUT HILLS HIGH SCHOOL.

SO THEY'RE CLOSE BY AND, YEAH.

KELLAR: OH, MY GOSH, FOUR FOR LITTLE KIDS.

MOONEY: YEAH.

KELLAR: I MEAN, THOSE ARE LITTLE.

MOONEY: YEAH.

YEAH.

KELLAR: DO THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OF THE -- MOONEY: OH, ABSOLUTELY.

YEAH.

YEAH.

WELL, THAT AND THAT REALLY THAT'S BEEN, I MEAN, JUST, YOU KNOW, PERSONALLY THAT'S BEEN THE BEST THING.

IT'S REALLY BEEN A GREAT -- IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

THEY'VE GROWN UP THERE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, THE TWO YOUNGER ONES WEREN'T EVEN BORN AND, YEAH, OUR SIX YEAR OLD WILL BE IN SUMMER CAMP IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

AND HE DID AFTER SCHOOL ART, ALL, YOU KNOW.

KELLAR: DO ANY OR ALL LOOK LIKE THEY MIGHT BECOME ARTISTS?

MOONEY: I THINK SO IN SOME WAY, YEAH.

WE'VE GOT A SINGER.

WE'VE GOT ONE WHO'S PRETTY GOOD AT VISUAL ART.

WE'VE GOT AN ACTOR AMONGST US, I THINK, WHICH WILL MAKE THIS MOTHER VERY, VERY PROUD AND HAPPY.

SO, YEAH, THEY'RE ALL THEY'RE ALL BOYS TOO, BY THE WAY, SO THEY'RE ALL, YOU KNOW, INTO ATHLETICS AND ALL KINDS OF STUFF.

SO WHO KNOWS, TO BE DETERMINED.

KELLAR: I HOPE YOU HAVE A DEDICATED HUSBAND WITH FOUR BOYS.

MOONEY: I DO.

KELLAR: OH, MY GOODNESS, THE SOCCER GAMES.

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU GET TO ALL THE SOCCER GAMES AND THE, OH, WHAT ELSE?

THOSE BOYS AND SOCCER'S ALL I HEAR ABOUT.

MOONEY: OH, YEAH.

SOCCER -- THERE.

WELL, THAT YOU'RE ACCURATE.

THEY'RE ALL BIG INTO SOCCER, BUT WE'VE -- I ALSO IN MY LEISURE TIME I COACH MY THIRD GRADERS' BASKETBALL TEAM.

KELLAR: OH, COME ON.

NO.

OH, MY GOD, IN YOUR SPARE TIME.

MOONEY: YEAH, I LOVE BASKETBALL.

I PLAYED BASKETBALL ALL THROUGH CHILDHOOD, SO.

KELLAR: I LOVE BASKETBALL.

IT WAS A BIG BEARCAT FAN.

MOONEY: OH, YEAH, YEAH.

THOSE GAMES ARE REALLY FUN TO GO TO.

KELLAR: OF COURSE, I WAS AROUND IN THE REALLY, REALLY GREAT DAYS.

BUT, YEAH, A VERY LOYAL BEARCAT.

MOONEY: NICE.

KELLAR: WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE GOT EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL, BUT WE NEED TO FIND SOME OTHER THINGS FOR YOU TO DO.

YEAH, BECAUSE I CAN SEE THAT YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF TIME TO GET INVOLVED, TO GET IN TROUBLE OR WHATEVER.

YEAH.

NO.

THIS IS -- THEY'RE SO LUCKY TO HAVE YOU.

MOONEY: THANK YOU.

KELLAR: I MEAN, YOU'RE REALLY A GREAT A GREAT ROLE MODEL, I GUESS WE COULD SAY.

BUT YOU, WITH FOUR BOYS OF YOUR OWN, YOU CERTAINLY KNOW WHAT KIDS LIKE AND HOW TO GET THE BEST OUT OF THEM.

AND WHAT WOULD BE THE AGE GROUP THAT YOU SPAN?

MOONEY: OH MY GOODNESS.

WELL, WE HAVE MUSIC GARDEN WHICH IS REALLY A, AND IN FACT, THAT WAS MY FIRST ENTRY TO CCAC WHEN MY KIDS WERE REALLY, REALLY LITTLE.

AND THAT CAN START AT THREE MONTHS OLD.

SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, MOSTLY STAY AT HOME PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS WHO BRING THEIR BABIES, YOU KNOW.

KELLAR: AND YOU JUST PLAY MUSIC FOR THEM?

MOONEY: WELL, NO, IT'S A LITTLE MORE IN DEPTH THAN THAT.

IT'S A LOT ABOUT LEARNING, YOU KNOW, PERCUSSION AND NOTES, AND SO IT'S A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BIT MORE.

KELLAR: FOR A THREE MONTH OLD?

MOONEY: YEAH.

THERE'S THEORY INVOLVED.

AND YOU KNOW, I MEAN, KIDS LOVE MUSIC.

IT'S JUST SUCH A GREAT WAY TO TAP INTO, YOU KNOW.

KELLAR: OF COURSE, THERE'S NO CHILD WHO DOESN'T LIKE MUSIC.

MOONEY: AND WE ALL, YOU KNOW, WE ALL SORT OF FORGET, NOT ALL, BUT A LOT OF US FORGET BY THE TIME WE GET INTO ADOLESCENCE AND WE GET, YOU KNOW, MAYBE A LITTLE SELF-CONSCIOUS ABOUT THINGS, BUT THESE KIDS ARE GREAT TO WATCH.

THEY JUST DANCE AROUND.

AND ANYWAY.

SO THREE MONTHS HAS YOUNG, YOU KNOW, AND THEN ALL THE WAY UP, I MEAN, I THINK WE HAVE RIGHT NOW A 98 YEAR OLD TAKING PILATES.

KELLAR: STOP.

OH, MY GOSH.

MOONEY: YEAH, RELIGIOUSLY.

KELLAR: THREE MONTHS TO 98.

MOONEY: SO THERE YOU GO.

KELLAR: WOW.

IS THAT A MALE OR A FEMALE?

MOONEY: NO LIMITS.

A FEMALE.

KELLAR: GOOD FOR HER.

MOONEY: I KNOW, RIGHT?

KELLAR: YOU SHOULD GET IN THERE.

CONGRATULATIONS.

MOONEY: TALK ABOUT ROLE MODELS, THAT'S MY ROLE MODEL.

KELLAR: EVERY DAY.

WELL, IT SOUNDS LIKE AN INCREDIBLE PLACE.

AND I KNOW PEOPLE WHO FIND OUT, AND I HOPE LOTS OF PEOPLE DO.

AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE REALLY ON A ROLL.

AND WE LOVE HAVING YOU HERE.

MOONEY: THANK YOU.

KELLAR: SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.

MOONEY: IT'S BEEN GREAT TO BE HERE.

KELLAR: REALLY, REALLY FUN TO TALK TO YOU.

MOONEY: THANK YOU.

BARBARA.

ANNOUNCER: JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER EPISODE OF SHOWCASE WITH BARBARA KELLAR RIGHT HERE ON CET.

CAPTIONS: MAVERICK CAPTIONING CIN OH MAVERICKCAPTIONING.COM