Tell City Arts Group Converts Downtown Building Into Full Arts Hub

The Tell City Regional Arts Association launched a four-phase renovation of the building at 12th and Tell streets, with phase one covering demolition and initial construction expected to finish by June 2026 and a completed facility that would bring gallery space, a pottery classroom, an art classroom, and a black-box theater under one roof.

TCRA Executive Director Colleen Reed described the theater as restoring "that third leg of our organization," alongside the classroom and music programming the group already runs. The organization lost its previous black-box theater three years ago when it moved facilities, and the gap has limited opportunities for local actors, technical crews, and youth theater programs since.

Theater department member Cindia Ress said the realistic expectation is to start with about four shows a year rather than overcommitting at the outset.

Phases two through four will follow phase one but are contingent on fundraising, and TCRA is actively seeking donations and volunteers. The phased approach lets the organization open completed sections of the building while continuing to raise capital for the remaining stages.

The pottery classroom fills a concrete gap: a hands-on studio at a central downtown address open to students, adults, and youth programs that currently have limited clay-working options in Tell City. Alongside it, the gallery would give local artists a venue to show and sell work on a corridor that sees little evening foot traffic without a performance draw.

When all four phases are complete, the corner of 12th and Tell would host gallery exhibitions, pottery instruction, studio classes, and live theater under one address, a combination TCRA has not been able to offer since losing its last performance venue three years ago.