The City of Euclid is excited to announce that Shore Cultural Centre has been chosen as a recipient of $19,327 in grant money from the Ohio History Connection’s Ohio History Fund. This significant funding will be utilized for the much-needed renovation of two restrooms located near Shore's auditorium. The important project is one of many planned at the small-business incubator, contributing to the ongoing preservation and enhancement of this historic venue.

The Ohio History Fund is a competitive, matching grant program organized by the Ohio History Connection, dedicated to supporting projects that preserve and share Ohio’s rich history. Shore Cultural Centre’s proposal was selected from a record number of 68 submissions, with total requests amounting to $958,833. Despite the fierce competition, Shore Cultural Centre’s project stood out, garnering one of the just 15 grants awarded this year, amounting to a total of $194,657 in funding distributed.

Shore Cultural Centre is a Euclid landmark, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1913 as Shore High School, the building has three floors and encompasses 125,000 square feet of space. It is a bustling hub of activity, featuring a variety of facilities including meeting rooms, dance studios, gymnasiums, and a spacious auditorium.

Beyond its role as Euclid’s centre for arts and culture, Shore Cultural Centre acts as a small business incubator. It nurtures entrepreneurship by serving as a home to over 35 small businesses that utilise their spaces to sell products, create art, teach, dance, conduct workshops, meet clients, and more.

The Shore Cultural Centre's restroom rehabilitation project is a key component of the City of Euclid’s broader initiative to preserve and improve its historic facilities. Shore serves as a venue for community engagement, hosting a wide array of cultural, educational, and artistic events. The renovation will not only enhance the visitor experience but also ensure the building's facilities meet modern standards while maintaining their historical integrity.

Laura Kidder, the long-time manager of Shore Cultural Centre, expressed immense gratitude for the grant, stating, “We are honored to receive this support from the Ohio History Fund. This grant will allow us to enhance our facilities and provide a welcoming and accessible environment for Shore’s thousands of visitors, and our small-business tenants. We are excited to move forward with this project and further our mission of preserving Shore as a historic landmark.”

The announcement of the grant recipients was officially made during the annual Statehood Day event on March 5 at the Statehouse in Columbus. In addition to the financial support, the Ohio History Connection will join us to help celebrate Shore Cultural Centre’s achievement with a public open house and tours of the landmark building. This event is set to take place later in March. More details to follow!

For more information about Shore Cultural Centre and the 35+ small businesses that call it home, please click here.