Richland Academy of the Arts

The Richland Academy of the Arts (RAA) was founded in 1991 as a non-profit community multi-arts education center. Located at 75 North Walnut Street in the downtown Carrousel District of Mansfield, the RAA has developed a diverse and valued curriculum where its academic calendar includes year-round classes. During the 2022-2023 year, 1,856 students registered for and attended a total of 11,329 weekly classes.RAA has served thousands of students and families during the past 32 years through our Tuition Assistance Program and has awarded over $751,105 to families in need of financial assistance. We award an average of $25,000 to qualifying students in Richland County and surrounding communities annually. Scholarships are funded through community donations and the $250,000 endowed Neil Doerman Scholarship Trust designated to RAA in 2018. Income-based tuition assistance is limited to a maximum of $2,500 per family based on financial need and according to Federal guidelines.While the history of the RAA is rich, one highlight includes the 1998-2002 Capital Campaign that raised $4.5 million with support from local organizations and individual donors, $400,000 from the State of Ohio, and a matching $400,000 challenge grant from the Kresge Foundation. This campaign allowed the RAA to purchase the current property and begin renovations that have moved our mission forward.

In 2006, the RAA implemented what has become one of the most meaningful collaborations between the RAA and the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) to become a Sponsor of Community Schools. Community Schools are innovative free public schools designed by educators, parents, or civic leaders that are open by choice and accountable to the State of Ohio for results. Charter schools (called Community Schools in Ohio) are independently run and innovative public schools, that foster partnerships between parents, teachers, and students. The National Association of Public Charter Schools has reported that for the past 20 years, the public charter school movement has been a leader in innovation and education reform. RAA has earned an Effective sponsor rating each year since 2017 based on a comprehensive assessment conducted by the ODE. During the 2022-2023 academic year, the RAA will sponsor five community schools including Case Preparatory Academy in Akron; Cesar Chavez College Preparatory School in Columbus; Columbus Bilingual Academy North; Lorain Bilingual Preparatory Academy; and Northside Preparatory Academy in Cincinnati. The RAA is committed to providing our community schools with arts programming.The history of the RAA is important because the institution has served as an incubator for unique community education programs like ZoomZone (2003), the IMAC Conversion School (2005), Foundation Academy (2004-2009), and the Pioneer High School for Performing Arts (2009). The Richland Academy School of Excellence, now known as the Richland School for Academic Arts (RSAA, 2010-2015), was developed by RAA leadership where we maintained operational duties for all facets of the RSAA education programs. The future of the RAA is bright as we lead arts education forward in six Ohio counties and encourage everyone to "Explore the Artist Within."