Nearly a century ago, in 1926, the Pythian Temple first opened its doors on Columbus' Near East Side. The building—designed by Samuel M. Plato, a prominent Black architect—became known as a hub for Black arts and culture in Columbus, welcoming celebrated performers like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Cab Calloway. Located on Mount Vernon Avenue, the four-story, 27,000-square-foot building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. However, just decades later, the historic site was in danger of being lost forever after it was listed for sale in 2020.
That's when Maroon Arts Group, a local nonprofit dedicated to developing, supporting, and celebrating Black creative and cultural expression, saw an opportunity to bring new life to the Pythian Temple while honoring its rich past. Concerned that the historic site may be torn down or redeveloped, Maroon Arts Group wanted to ensure that the Pythian Temple remained an asset to the nearby community. Coincidentally, the organization was also looking for space to expand its programming.
"We were already talking about how Maroon Arts Group could grow and what kind of impact we wanted to have, so it was a natural fit," explained Sheri Neale, board chair of Maroon Arts Group.
"Part of that decision was making sure that the history of the building remained, and that we would be stewards of that history."
Sheri Neale, board chair of Maroon Arts Group
In 2021, Maroon Arts Group entered into a purchase agreement to acquire the Pythian Temple and, after thoughtful planning, negotiations, and fundraising, finalized the purchase in 2023. Now, the organization is focusing its efforts on restoring the property, which also houses a ballroom and the James Pythian Theater, a 444-seat performing arts space. With renovations underway, Neale said the organization soon plans to begin work on the theatre, including modernizing the technology and making modest cosmetic improvements.
Maroon Arts Group plans for the building, now named the Maroon Culture Lab, to be a place where the community can gather, create, and collaborate. The organization will continue to offer its existing programs—such as Deliver Black Dreams, a public art initiative, and Pitch Black, a crowdfunding event for local creatives—in its new space, but on a larger scale than previously possible. Additionally, as Marshall Shorts, a founding board member of Maroon Arts Group, described, the Maroon Culture Lab will serve as a laboratory for cultural production, providing space for exhibitions, artist residencies, and other opportunities.
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"We have learning communities, we have performance spaces, but we envision Maroon Arts Group as a community collaborator that can build and experiment," said Shorts. "We want this place to be a sanctuary for art, for Black cultural production. Keeping that at the core will help drive whatever programming and collaboration we do decide."
Maroon Arts Group has received donations from many members of the community, as well as local nonprofits, to support the purchase, renovation, and preservation of the Pythian Temple. According to Shorts, the project was initially made possible thanks to a generous gift from an anonymous donor. The Columbus Foundation was an early supporter and, over the past three years, has awarded Maroon Arts Group multiple grants for the project. In December 2024, the State of Ohio awarded the project an Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit, providing Maroon Arts Group with additional support to help the organization expand its programming. To date, the organization has successfully raised more than half of its $9 million fundraising goal.
As Maroon Arts Group begins its next act in the historic Pythian Temple, the organization looks forward to welcoming the community to help celebrate the building’s past, present, and future. In honor of the Pythian Temple’s 100th anniversary, which coincides with Maroon Arts Group’s 10th anniversary, the organization is planning to host a celebration event in 2026.
"For us to be able to continue a legacy like this, in a place that was founded for and built by us, I feel that every time I walk into this space," said Diettra Engram, a board member of Maroon Arts Group. "There’s a lot of providence around this. It's very exciting. It's surreal."
