The vacant land in front of the Chester Library will soon be a construction zone. Long in coming, the Chesterfield Center for the Arts Foundation (CCAF) has raised about half the money Chesterfield County needs to begin construction on an approximately 20,000-square-foot performing arts center. But the $1.1 million funds only the Foundation’s part for constructing the building. The community (through the Foundation) needs to raise at least another $1 million to fund operating expenses.
The CCAF is not alone in efforts to build the facility. Chesterfield County will be taking on the lion’s share of the construction costs of about $8 million. An agreement between Chesterfield and the CCAF requires that the operating expenses of the arts center be covered by the CCAF. The CCAF must raise the first year’s operating expenses by the time the center opens by the middle of 2017.
Construction could begin by the end of this year if design and construction plans can be completed, according to Amanda King, vice chair of the Executive Board of Directors. The project could take as long one-and-a-half to two years.
Ms. King has a certain passion for the arts center having grown up in Chester; graduating from Thomas Dale High School.
The Chesterfield Center for the Arts will be a boon for the economic growth of the County and especially south eastern Chesterfield.
The CCAF worked with Virginia Nonprofits Associates Group that went out to about 15 major arts groups in the Richmond area. The question was asked; as this facility is designed what do you need to come out and perform at this facility?King said a lot of performing arts groups are very interested to bringing entertainment to the Center – groups such as Richmond Symphony, Latin Ballet Character Works, Virginia Repertory, Richmond Forum and other regional talent.
King said that the arts center group has taken a break from fundraising over the last several months to work on the specifics of the agreement with the County. Now that process is complete and the Board of Directors is back to pursuing the essential funds to make the center successful.
“We have gotten signed agreements from the County and the EDA (Economic Development Authority) that established our relationship,” King said. “That was a huge step because it moves our construction forward, but it also outlined how we are going to implement the design we have, and to bid out the construction, and basically how the process is going to go from design to completion.”
“We’re now in the nitty-gritty of how we are going to get the center built,” she said.
The arts center project has been growing to fruition for decades, from a dream of Dotty Armstrong’s, who was very involved in the theatre group the John Rolfe Players in 1989; a revival of the dream by Betty Matthews in 2002; approved in the 2004 Chesterfield bond referendum; surviving the economic downturn and the latest fund raising effort, which has raised enough funds to allow the Chesterfield County administration to partner with the CCAF to build the facility.
“We are very happy to be another step closer to making the Chesterfield Center for the Arts a reality. Official agreements signed last week among the Chesterfield Center for the Arts Foundation, Economic Development Authority and Chesterfield County outline the financing and operation of the future performing and cultural arts center,” said Sarah Snead, deputy county administrator.
“We now may proceed to the design and construction phases of this project, which is a shining example of the community’s commitment toward a long-term goal. We are excited about what this center will mean, not just to Chesterfield, but to the entire region, when completed.”
One issue that has come up from those who are somewhat familiar with the project is the number of parking spaces. King said she understands, but those involved in planning the facility, indicate that there will be enough parking – 290 spaces.
“We obviously don’t want to open the facility without enough parking,” King said.
The theatre itself will accommodate a 350-person audience. King said studies have indicated that 350 is the “sweet spot” for such a facility.
King also said the arts center board is not concerned with other venues in the area. The ideology is different. The center is more Richmond regional and community focused, and one has to remember, at one time, the future venue was to be the Chester Community Arts Center.
Will there be classrooms for art instruction? Jim Daniels and Courtney Wells, two local Realtors® donated a strip of land along the edge of the arts center on Centre Street that may be included as classrooms and a kitchen to serve as a staging area for caterers.
The window is closing on the empty lot in front of the Chester Library. Soon the window will open on Chesterfield’s first brand new arts center.
