'Divine order.' Bluecoats and EN-RICH-MENT team up and eye Ziegler site for arts academy

Ed Balint, Canton Repository
·6 min read
Mike Scott, CEO of the Stark County-based Bluecoats, and Betty Smith, executive director of EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy in Canton, are shown outside the former Ziegler Tire building in downtown Canton. The building is being considered as a permanent home for EN-RICH-MENT.
Mike Scott, CEO of the Stark County-based Bluecoats, and Betty Smith, executive director of EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy in Canton, are shown outside the former Ziegler Tire building in downtown Canton. The building is being considered as a permanent home for EN-RICH-MENT.

CANTON − The former Ziegler Tire building in downtown Canton is the proposed new home of the EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy, and the mayor wants to give the project a boost with $68,000 for a new roof.

Mayor Thomas Bernabei is asking City Council to allocate a grant to ArtsinStark, which owns the Ziegler site at 901 Market Ave. N. In a written request to council this month, Bernabei asked council to fund the request with American Rescue Plan dollars and approve it at the Oct. 2 meeting.

Heading the estimated $1.5 million project will be the Bluecoats, known for a world-renowned drum and bugle corps based in Stark County. EN-RICHMENT provides performing arts and life skills programming for Canton area youth.

In the letter to council, Bernabei says the Bluecoats has verbal commitments totaling $950,000 from the six large foundations in Stark County to expand and remodel the Ziegler Building for EN-RICH-MENT.

During a recent tour outside the building, Mike Scott, CEO of the Bluecoats, and Betty Smith, executive director of EN-RICH-MENT, expressed excitement over the prospects of the arts academy relocating permanently into the Ziegler site.

The former Ziegler Tire Building in downtown Canton is owned by ArtsinStarks. The building is the proposed new permanent home of the EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy in Canton.
The former Ziegler Tire Building in downtown Canton is owned by ArtsinStarks. The building is the proposed new permanent home of the EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy in Canton.

What's the timeline for the Ziegler property and EN-RICH-MENT move?

No timeline has been given for the project, but if it moves forward, Smith said it would finally fulfill her dream of finding a long-term home for the agency she founded in 2012.

And it would allow EN-RICH-MENT to help more kids through its free programming, including instruction in art, music, singing, dancing, gardening and theater, Smith and Scott said.

Ziegler vacated the site months ago after having leased it from the nonprofit ArtsinStark. ArtsinStark CEO David Whitehill had hinted previously at potential plans for the building, which abuts the Cultural Center for the Arts, as well as the site of a green space and park project expected to be completed next year.

Plans for the Ziegler building also symbolize the new partnership and shared vision between the Bluecoats and EN-RICH-MENT.

The two nonprofit agencies have entered into a formal affiliation agreement, which allows them to share resources in some capacity while creating operational efficiencies. The overall goal is to ensure the future existence and success of EN-RICH-MENT while helping more youth collectively through both groups, Smith and Scott said.

Shown is the site of a green space and pocket park project by ArtsinStark in downtown Canton. In the background is the former Ziegler Tire building, the proposed site of a permanent home for the EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy.
Shown is the site of a green space and pocket park project by ArtsinStark in downtown Canton. In the background is the former Ziegler Tire building, the proposed site of a permanent home for the EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy.

Ziegler project includes repairs, equipment, furnishings

Bernabei's letter to council spells out the proposed terms of the Ziegler building project.

ArtsinStark would still own the building, leasing it to the Bluecoats, which in turn would assist EN-RICH-MENT with relocating to the site.

Construction would involve numerous structural modifications and repairs, as well as equipment and furnishings, Bernabei's document said.

Bluecoats is asking the city for $68,440 to cover the cost of materials to replace the roof. Labor and installation would cost an additional $102,537, the mayor's request to council explained. The city's proposed grant to ArtsinStark is contingent on the receipt of the project's other funding.

The proposed city grant would come from Canton's share of American Rescue Plan funding, a program the federal government created to support state, local and tribal governments in their recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Foundation funding isn't expected to be formally approved until November, Bernabei wrote.

Children at the EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy's summer camp practice a dance routine.
Children at the EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy's summer camp practice a dance routine.

Looking for a new home to help more kids

During the tour of the former Ziegler site last week, Smith said she began the search for a permanent location about five years ago.

She said EN-RICH-MENT lacks the resources to acquire a new location without the support and help of a group like the Bluecoats.

In addition to the building project, the two agencies will be working together under the terms of the new affiliation agreement.

The Bluecoats perform at Centennial Plaza at the 2023 Stark Pride Festival in downtown Canton.
The Bluecoats perform at Centennial Plaza at the 2023 Stark Pride Festival in downtown Canton.

The agreement will restructure both organizations, "creating an extraordinary spectrum of programming for youth that spans from local students' first experiences with the performing arts to the world-renowned Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps," both agencies said in the joint news release.

Coming together with the Bluecoats also "gives us sustainability, which is important," said Smith, 83.

"It was like a divine order," she said of the partnership with the Bluecoats. "God orchestrated the whole thing."

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Betty Smith, executive director of EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy in Canton, and Mike Scott, CEO of the Bluecoats in Stark County, are shown outside the former Ziegler Tire building in downtown Canton, the proposed site of a permanent home for EN-RICH-MENT.
Betty Smith, executive director of EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy in Canton, and Mike Scott, CEO of the Bluecoats in Stark County, are shown outside the former Ziegler Tire building in downtown Canton, the proposed site of a permanent home for EN-RICH-MENT.

What does EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy do?

Working with "under-resourced" youth ages 5 to 18, EN-RICH-MENT features a drumline, dance groups and choir.

The Bluecoats already provide support to EN-RICH-MENT, including with free drum instruction and donating musical equipment.

"I think the Bluecoats organization really believes in EN-RICH-MENT," Scott said during the recent tour of the Ziegler site. "We know the value of this type of programming. We know that can make a lifelong impact on people..."

This sculpture, part of a public art display commemorating a historic moment in NFL football, is at the site of a pocket park project in downtown Canton being headed by ArtsinStark. In the background is the former Ziegler Tire Building, the proposed future site of the EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy.
This sculpture, part of a public art display commemorating a historic moment in NFL football, is at the site of a pocket park project in downtown Canton being headed by ArtsinStark. In the background is the former Ziegler Tire Building, the proposed future site of the EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy.

Who are the Bluecoats?

Founded in 1972 as an outreach of the Canton Police Boys Club, the Bluecoats is known across the world for its drum and bugle corps, which was named the 2016 Drum Corps International world champion.

The Bluecoats organization also has evolved into a music and performing arts education provider.

"It doesn't matter if it's at the highest level or a starting kid," Scott said of drumming and music. "We know the value of music education. Both organizations are so much more than (drumlines). It's teaching a student to be dedicated to their craft, leadership skills, being respectful and living out your values."

Betty Smith, executive director of the EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy in Canton, speaks with a child at a summer camp earlier this year.
Betty Smith, executive director of the EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy in Canton, speaks with a child at a summer camp earlier this year.

ArtsinStark CEO says Ziegler site will help grow arts locally

ArtsinStark CEO David Whitehill said he's excited about the prospects of EN-RICH-MENT moving into the former Ziegler building.

More about local arts leader: What's new at ArtsinStark? Sculptural window, grant program changes, green space project

"ArtsinStark is committed to fostering the growth of art and culture by utilizing the arts as a powerful catalyst for advancing community development," he said in an email. "Our strong belief in this endeavor centers on transforming the (former) Ziegler Tire building into an accessible, versatile and affordable community arts center, which will serve as a dynamic hub for fostering creativity, individual expression and promoting positive social change."

Additionally, the building will anchor one corner of the "new pocket park" that is being created on the Cultural Center for the Arts Campus, Whitehill said.

Children practice the drumline at a summer camp this year at the EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy in Canton.
Children practice the drumline at a summer camp this year at the EN-RICH-MENT Fine Arts Academy in Canton.

Reach Ed at 330-580-8315 and ebalint@gannett.com

On X (formerly Twitter) @ebalintREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton Bluecoats, EN-RICH-MENT partner to find new arts academy home