Rosewood Renovation and Reinvention

News

Updated 12/1/2023

Rosewood welcomes everyone into the newly renovated facility on December 2 for a special ribbon cutting ceremony (10 am ) and A Rosewood Holiday Arts Festival (11 am - 3 pm).  Regular facility hours start on Monday, December 4 and include drop-in studios again.  Our Phase III area (painting and drawing , artist and printmaking studios, theatre) are still under minor renovation but will be hosting classes starting in Winter 2024; please check with the Rosewood front desk about their status prior to classes starting.

Please note Rosewood will be closed the following dates because of holidays and/or renovations:
A Rosewood Holiday Arts Festival: Open Studios Not Available December 2
Closed: December 18 - January 1

*Important Ceramics Studio and Darkroom Renovation Information* The new ceramics studio and renovated darkroom opened to the public in April 2023.  Our goal is to provide our patrons with an amazing space to learn, create new things and build a community of artists from all walks of life. We appreciate your compliance with the studio policies, guidelines, and department Code of Conduct as we in habit our new spaces!  For detailed information about the studios including how to schedule an orientation, visit our studio webpage.

We strive to make your experience to Rosewood successful during our renovation.  Rosewood staff are always available to assist you; please contact us at during regular business hours through our main office at (937) 296-0294 or email us at rosewood@ketteringoh.org.

Project Overview

Beginning in September 2021, the City of Kettering launched a multi-year, phased renovation to update Rosewood Arts Center. As part of the City of Kettering’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts (PRCA), Rosewood is a community destination dedicated to enriching the quality of life for the residents of Kettering and the greater Dayton area by providing creative experiences through a variety of art forms for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.

The renovation includes infrastructure improvements (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) and the creation of more efficient and customized learning environments for various artistic disciplines. Rosewood in located within a repurposed 1965 elementary school designed by Kettering architect Eugene Betz. Leased to the City from the Kettering City Schools, Rosewood Arts Center opened for a full year of programming in 1985.  Since then, Rosewood has provided exceptional arts programming including hundreds of educational programs and classes each year, as well as artist studio spaces, exhibitions, performances and special events.

The renovation will continue through 2023, and the building will remain open and continue to offer art education classes and gallery programming.  Through community and stakeholder feedback and surveys conducted over the past several years, the renovation will include not only upgrades to the building’s infrastructure but also to expanding educational space for core program areas including youth arts instruction, ceramics, painting and drawing, and specialized spaces for glass and metal working.

The Rosewood project is being managed by the City of Kettering's Public Service Department, working with LWC Incorporated (previously Lorenz Williams) as the project architect and Brumbaugh Construction, Inc.

Funding for this project is provided by the City of Kettering and the Cultural Facilities Grant Fund administered by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, with additional support provided by the Kettering Parks Foundation.