By Jackie Demaline
Enquirer staff writer

This is the first in a periodic series on how a community arts center comes to life.

Dan Dermody and Ed Cohen, well-known names in area community theater, envision the one-time Madisonville Senior Center building at 5021 Whetzel Ave. as a three-story home for visual and performing artists. In the spring, they incorporated as the Community Arts Institute, the City of Cincinnati agreed to lease the building to the institute for $1 a year for five years and City Council's Arts & Culture committee awarded $75,000 for capital improvements.

That was just the beginning.

The city thinks Dermody and Cohen have a great idea, and Congressman Rob Portman has also thrown his support behind the pair.

But what happens when a great idea has to take the next steps toward reality?

Earlier this week, Dermody and Cohen were huddling in Cohen's new office at 35 E. Seventh St. "It has that new car smell," Cohen jokes. It may be prophetic that Cohen's office window overlooks the Aronoff Center for the Arts.

This day's mission: write a letter of introduction to potential funders.

The list of funders on his legal pad, says Dermody, began with Cincinnati Ballet executive director Susan Redman-Rengstorf.

Cohen is at the word processor, Dermody moves to stand over his shoulder. If they were at central casting, intellectual-looking Cohen would get the part of an attorney, the more rugged Dermody would type as the guy who rehabs houses. Which is exactly what they do in their day jobs.

"We need to characterize as being more than local," Cohen says. "It will serve Madisonville but the real impact will be citywide."

They debate the cover letter. What needs to be said? What's too much, too little? Dermody has written a draft, they re-write paragraph by paragraph.

Cohen turns out to be a whiz at the correspondence. "Our belief," he types, "is that this area is in desperate need of an affordable venue for the visual and performing arts and we have already made great strides toward that goal."

"If we had money in hand, we'd be starting right now," says Cohen. The city's commitment of $75,000 comes in the form of reimbursement for monies spent. They're not quite sure how it all works and they make a note to call their project manager, assigned by the city.

"Everyone is saying they like this idea," Cohen says. "Getting a foot in the door is the hard part."

He considers. "But there's a lot we can do without money. We can gut and paint the first floor ourselves." Dermody is an acclaimed scenic designer on the community theater scene and has an extensive tool shop at the ready.

They have yet to sign the lease, because as soon as ink touches a contract, Community Arts Institute will be responsible for operating costs, including utilities and insurance.

They decide to make another phone call, to find out if they have to officially take possession to start clean-up.

Cohen votes for a clean-up day in July, rounding up an army of volunteers and getting the would-be arts center on people's minds. Then he groans. "It's going to be really hot."

It's going to be a long haul. The $400,000 renovation will include an elevator, air-conditioning, carpets, performance and exhibition spaces with sound and lighting systems as well as upgraded kitchens and restrooms.

The plan is the center will be self-sufficient from ticket sales once the doors open.

Also on the immediate to-do list is a quick check to see which funds and foundations haven't closed their fiscal year.

Among the recipients will be the usual arts-friendly suspects and some less usual ones, including probable grant requests to the Ohio Arts and Sports Facilities Commission and the federal Housing and Urban Development.

Letters require follow upcalls.

"Cold calls are not my forte," Dermody sighs, "but I guess I'll have to do it."

E-mail jdemaline@enquirer.com