ABOUT US

AREA HALL ART HOUSE

AREA HALL - SARAH HILL

ART HOUSE - MYRIAM NICODEMUS

*BOTH OF OUR BUSINESSES COMBINED

What do you do? 

I buy old and mostly vacant buildings, fix them up, and fill them with people and vitality. I’m drawn to historic homes, spaces for artists, vibrant neighborhood nodes, and walkability. 

How did you meet Myriam?

I’ve known of Myriam for over 10 years - she actually photographed my old house in 2014 and took my picture on a couple of different occasions. 

Why did you decide to work together? 

I’ve been impressed with Myriam for years, always admiring her artistic skill, style, and vision.

Myriam and I really connected when she was closing up her EM EN Art House and selling off her studio fixtures and furnishings after the building sold. I was looking for a purpose for one of my beloved buildings and wondered if it might work as a photography studio. Myriam had proven the point that South Bend has a real need for these sorts of spaces and closing her studio was leaving a big void. After a few false starts trying to put the studio together on my own, Myriam reached out and we linked up to create the Area Hall Art House. I think our collaboration has been pure synergy and has truly exceeded the sum of our individual efforts.

What is AH AH? 

AH AH is a space designed to support artists in creating national quality content and productions. 

What do you hope to see happen in the future as a team? 

It’s easy for Myriam and I to see each other’s vision and get on board. We’re both extremely driven and hardworking and have taken it upon ourselves to create the communities and spaces where we want to live and work. Right now, we are working on engaging the spaces around AH AH to create vibrancy and vitality for our Lincoln Way West neighborhood. We’re also looking towards future opportunities and expansions downtown.  

What do you do? 

I am a photographer, filmmaker, and entrepreneur passionate about telling stories through visual art. My work is driven by a desire to connect with people and capture the essence of their experiences so that we can see more of our similarities and not our differences.

How did you meet Sarah?

I was familiar with Sarah and her work because of our close mutual friend, who has collaborated with her for years. I had always heard of Sarah's work due to the buzz she has generated locally with her restoration and city revival projects. I was consistently impressed by her attention to detail when visiting her properties. However, it wasn't until late 2024 that I truly got to know her.

Why did you decide to work together? 

When Sarah approached me about possibly creating a studio space at Area Hall, I felt at ease knowing that a local studio would still be present, even if it were not me behind it. I had been hesitant to start the studio back up on my own, knowing that the demands of management would pull me away from my passion for documentary filmmaking and photography once again.

When the opportunity to collaborate came about, I realized how much I still desired a studio space to share, but I knew I would never do it alone again. I needed a partner to help oversee its operations full-time. Partnering with Sarah has been incredible and has allowed me to continue to create spaces for artists while also getting to be one myself.

Sarah’s expertise in property management was the missing puzzle piece. Our collaboration has felt like a perfect match, and I’ve found this partnership to be unexpectedly smooth and rewarding, especially when working alongside someone who understands the importance of making bold decisions and who works at the same speed.

What is AH AH? 

Area Hall Art House (AH AH) is so much more than a photography studio; it is a vibrant and welcoming creative space meticulously crafted to inspire and nurture creativity. A space where artists and visionaries can come together, find their voices, and share them.

What do you hope to see happen in the future as a team? 

We're excited to keep blending our love for attention to detail in beautiful design, creating spaces that inspire and feel alive again.

Our goals go beyond aesthetics; we want to build a community that we love living in—one that supports everyone and encourages creativity.

We’re all about making sure artists have the chance to work and grow, both at our current spot and in downtown South Bend, IN. We plan to continue paving the way for a vibrant creative scene where everyone can connect and grow. When artists thrive, the community thrives.