By Andrea Uhde
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Art Academy of Cincinnati announced Thursday it is almost two-thirds of the way to reaching its goal of $10.5 million for its new consolidated Over-the-Rhine campus.

The money is a huge step toward a project that will strengthen the Over-the-Rhine community and the services the school provides, those involved with the project said.

"Three hundred students are going to be on the street all day, every day, living, shopping and entertaining. I can't imagine a better opportunity to come to a corner like this at this point in time," said Cincinnati City Councilman Jim Tarbell.

The Academy has raised $6.7 million for the new campus, which will be on the corner of 12th and Jackson streets.

Fifth Third Bank, Procter & Gamble and the city of Cincinnati each donated $250,000, and the family of John Schiff III, who has served on the campaign committee for the new building project, contributed $650,000.

The rest of the money has come from Art Academy trustees, faculty and staff, and capital campaign committee members.

The new campus will include several amenities the current classrooms lack, including enough studio space for juniors and seniors, air conditioning and handicapped access. The 120,000-square-foot space is twice the size of the current three-building system, which will allow 100 more undergraduates to enroll, said Gregory Allgire Smith, Academy president.

The Academy now has 200 undergraduate students, 25 graduate students and 2,400 children and adults in non-credit classes.

"It gives us a great opportunity to do a better job and expand on what we're doing now," Smith said. "I think it will raise our visibility and it will increase our applications."

The Academy's buildings now are in Eden Park, in Mount Adams, with a third downtown.

Over-the-Rhine, home of several art galleries and theaters, is the perfect area for consolidation, Smith said.

"There are more arts in this neighborhood south of Liberty than in Eden Park," he said. "People don't realize it."

Construction on the Over-the-Rhine campus will start next year, and the school is scheduled to open in 2005.

E-mail auhde@enquirer.com