On April 14, Artspace Projects will join with community partners to host a ceremonial groundbreaking celebration for the new Bell Artspace Campus.

This ceremonial groundbreaking prefaces the upcoming construction that will transform the former Bell School in New Orleans’ Treme neighborhood, — abandoned since Katrina — into an arts campus.

In addition to 79 affordable work units for artists and families, the project will also include space for community, non-profit and creative enterprise partners.

Artspace, a non-profit organization using tools of real estate development to create affordable places where artists can live and work, will hold a series of public meetings throughout the year to provide updates on the progress of construction and the project timeline.

The project is estimated to cost around $37.4 million. The first units are expected to be complete in summer 2017.

Many local foundations have provided private support for the Bell Artspace Campus, many of whom will have representatives speaking at the ceremonial groundbreaking.  Several city officials will also give brief remarks.

The event, taking place at 5 p.m. in front of the main building at 2100 Ursulines Avenue in New Orleans, is free and open to the public.

More information as well as dates and locations for the first of those public meetings can be found on the Artspace website at www.artspace.org/bell.