LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A piece of history in Louisville's Russell neighborhood is getting new life.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Thursday for the newly-rehabilitated Bourgard College of Music and Art at 2503 West Muhammad Ali Boulevard in Louisville's west end.

The college first opened in 1927 and was the first-of-its kind art school for Black students. Founded by Caroline Bourgard, the school served as a safe space for children to learn and be creative, according to a release.

The college closed in 2017, sitting vacant and abandoned for nearly a decade. 

"This Victorian-era home is more than just a beautiful structure," Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said at the ribbon cutting. "It's a living monument to the hopes and dreams of generations of Black children who grew up right here in west Louisville."

In 2021, the National Park Service awarded a $500,000 grant to repair the dilapidated building. Renovations were completed June 27, and included wall stabilization, roof replacement, complete window preservation, new electric and plumbing and flooring, costing just more than $1.1 million. 

The renovation to the college is part of a larger initiative by the city to invest in the future of Louisville's west end. 

The West Louisville Performing Arts Academy (WLPAA) was granted the lease for the building, continuing the college's mission of providing art education to west Louisville youth. WLPAA hopes to add vocal and instrument studios, a music theory education classroom, storage for instruments and space for creativity and self-expression.

To learn more about the history of the Bourgard College of Music and Art, click here. To learn more about WLPAA, click here. 

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