Memorial Boulevard School would be a perfect venue for a performing arts centre as it has an existing theatre space that faces the Pequabuck River and could serve as a gateway to Downtown, linking with the proposed River Walk.
Turning the athletic fields into an amphitheater would be a great Phase 1 to an arts centre project as it could host outdoor concerts, plays, Renaissance festivals and poetry readings.
Phase 2 could be renovating the existing indoor theatre to host local arts groups like Bristol Theatre Arts, Bristol Choral Society, OM Shows, Bristol Brass and Wind Ensemble, local dance studio competitions and recitals, as well as serving as a movie/cinema house venue.
This idea would be well supported by our town (as well as surrounding communities) since there is strong arts presence, and would surely bring upscale revenues to our city. Updated entry by Kim Villanti.
Original entry by Kim Villanti was listed as a Visual and Performing Arts Centre, which isn’t feasible in the near term. The visual arts component included a gallery for exhibiting and showcasing local artists and/or guest artists and an educational center that could take residence and offer art and theatre programs for kids in the community, both of which now have their own entries listed separately.
See and vote for uses associated with the Arts Centre here.
Participate in the “Visual & Performing Arts Centre” campaign here.
As a member of the performing arts department at Bristol Central, I believe that a Performing Arts Centre is a spectacular idea. At times, I feel that there is not enough concentration on the visual and performing arts in Bristol. There is a lot of talent in this city, we just need to cultivate it and I believe that this i dea would be a perfect way to do it.
I love it. It’s generated so much enthusiasm and the input is very positive. This performing arts center is exactly what our artistic community needs–a “home” of its own.
First off, this is a building that was built to stand forever. Contractors were amazed way back in 1959, when a renovation took place, to find 18 inch load-bearing walls. The auditorium is huge. Its only ‘error’ is having windows on the North side which make dramatic lighting, movies, etc. difficult during the day. Ventilation is built in via a passive method. Installing AC might not cost all that much, but you will need a real pro to understand the structure. The wide hallways will enable a lot of gallery space. Handicapped access will also require a careful, enlightened approach. Please don’t take these comments as negatives as they are only voiced to alert the decision makers. You will need engineers and architects with experience on this style of building or you will have ‘change orders’ to beat the band. The building is a gem well worth saving and putting to good use. An arts center strikes me as an excellent choice.
I think this is a great idea, it gives the youth of Bristol a chance to see more than local art and expand their knowledge
A slam dunk and an absolute must to make the bigger picture a reality. The facility is already in place. It just needs to be expanded and prettied up. Soooo much talent in this town. Give them a showplace to showcase it!