A major arts facility is on the drafting table for the River Arts District.
The nonprofit RADA Foundation is developing a 36,000-square-foot creative campus on Lyman Street, designed to give working artists a permanent, artist-owned home. This story was first reported by 828 News Now.
Plans call for two former industrial buildings with maker spaces, nonprofit offices, a visitor welcome center and flexible space for music, theater and other events. The campus could also provide workforce training and serve as a community resiliency hub during future disasters.
The RAD Creative Campus is conceived as an artist-owned permanent home, spanning former industrial buildings at 123 and 135 Lyman Street. The project was inspired by the damages wrought by Hurricane Helene, which destroyed studios and disrupted sales for artists across the district.
RADA estimates the project could cost between $10-$20 million, and sale and transfer of the property wouldn’t happen until at least fall 2027, according to a RADA leader.