Living the Vision: Beverly's Dream Center for the Arts is Taking Shape Chicago Sun Times - March 15, 2000The Beverly residents at Sunday's annual South Side Irish Parade, they may have been surprised to see bulldozers and construction equipment on the prime viewing site at 111th and Western.
The arrival of the equipment heralded the first phase in the construction of a long awaited, $8 million multi-purpose community arts center.
The two-and-a-half acre site will be the home of the Beverly Art Center, a community theater and gallery currently located just one half mile from the planned development. Founded in 1967, it has grown from a fledgling volunteer organization aimed at advancing the arts into a thriving community center.
"The original vision was that of a performing arts center, with maybe one or two evening art classes," says BAC Board President Leslie Jacobs. "The community would use the center on evenings and weekends, but over the years that expanded."
Today, in addition to the theater and art exhibitions, the center offers dance, music, drama, after-school activities and preschool programs to thousands in the Beverly area. Because of a lack of space, many lessons are given at rental spaces off site, or in the basement. Cloakrooms serve as office space for a growing staff.
When the idea for an arts center was conceived 30 years ago, Jacobs noted, many women didn't work. After school activities and safe places for children were not concerns when most mothers stayed at home. The new center will be purposely built to meet the needs of a changing demographic.
A 420-seat theater will anchor the L-shaped building covering two square blocks. A removable apron will cover an orchestra pit to allow for larger productions, and modern sound and lighting booths have been included.
"We've had many groups wanting to perform out here but once they see the space they say they can't do it," says Jacobs. "We also want to bring in more art films, and feature more film festivals like we do every year around St. Patrick's Day." Other highlights of the center include a tiered choir room to house the Chicago Children's Choir and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra; six music studios, a professionally designed dance studio, three art studios, a workshop for woodworking and scenery building, a darkroom and a rotating art gallery. A large reception hall and outdoor courtyard will host both informal and formal gatherings, and a general activity room will be made available for after school programs, classes and community meetings. Other features include a café and gift shop, as well as a resource library for teachers and art students.
The group hopes for an April groundbreaking, shortly after the city completes demolition of the vacant gas station and hot dog stand currently on site. While residents have complained about the eyesore on this corner for nearly five years, Jacobs says the project has moved forward more quickly than they had hoped.
"We made the decision in October 1997 to expand, and we'd thought it take five years," says Jacobs. "But the following May we received a $3.5 million grant from the Illinois Arts Council, and then the city came forward and suggested this location." The property was designated a redevelopment area two years ago, allowing the city to purchase it and sell it at a low cost to the Art Center. The BAC hopes to raise an additional $4 million privately to sustain programs for the upcoming years, and will launch a fundraising campaign shortly after the parade.