Our Mission
Black River Innovative Artist Residence (The BRIAR) is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) focusing on rebuilding the City of Lorain and its community through the Arts.
Our Board of Directors is majority woman-led and made up of a diverse mix of people from all walks of life. We are a LGBTQ+ friendly, Transgender safe, BIPOC inclusive institution that strives to constantly and consistently implement change where and when needed. We pride ourselves on personal and institutional growth - something that is very necessary when fighting for change and growth in our neighborhoods.
Education, economic impact, and community development are the pillars of our foundation: P.A.T.C.H. “Promoting Arts To Create Harmony” is our mantra. Harmony in art, harmony in music, and harmony in our community is how we contribute to the revitalization of Lorain, OH.
With 10,000 sq. feet of space, we are located right on Broadway in Downtown Lorain’s Arts and Entertainment District. Creatives can take advantage of this burgeoning area by leasing affordable studio space, booking our spacious multipurpose area or stage for events.
The cornerstone of the BRIAR are our extra-curricular programs for Lorain’s youth; Many school districts have cut funding to arts & music programs which is a fundamental educational need for every young person.
The BRIAR serves our community with a variety of arts activities including, but not limited to: art classes for all ages, art shows, musical events, art studios for all creatives and rehearsal space for bands.
Certainly, the most important aspect of our concept is our extracurricular programming which accommodates young people not fortunate enough to have access to these types of electives in school or at home, including classes in art, photography, culinary, music, and audio/video production.
The BRIAR is the hub for artists and burgeoning creatives in downtown Lorain. As we reunite our community with the fine arts, Lorain’s revitalization continues to grow.