August Wilson African American Cultural Center facts for kids
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August Wilson Center
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August Wilson African American Cultural Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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| Former names | August Wilson Center for African American Culture (2009–2019) |
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| Address | 980 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania United States |
| Coordinates | 40°26′36″N 79°59′45″W / 40.4433°N 79.9957°W |
| Owner | August Wilson African American Cultural Center |
| Type | Theater |
| Capacity | 472 |
| Current use | Performing arts center |
| Construction | |
| Opened | September 17, 2009 |
| Architect | Allison G. Williams, Perkins and Will |
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The August Wilson African American Cultural Center is a special place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It's a non-profit organization, which means it uses its money to help people, not to make a profit. This center celebrates the amazing achievements of African Americans through art, music, and performances. It shares stories from Western Pennsylvania, the whole country, and even around the world.
You can find the August Wilson Center on Liberty Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh's Cultural District. It's a big building with lots to see and do! There are art galleries, classrooms for learning, and a theater with 500 seats for shows. You can also find a gift shop and a cafe. The center first opened its doors in 2009.
Contents
A Look at the Center's History
How the Center Began
The idea for the August Wilson Center started in 1996. Tim Stevens, who was the president of the NAACP in Pittsburgh, wanted to bring a big national meeting to the city. As part of his plan, he suggested that Pittsburgh should have a museum dedicated to African American culture.
Later that year, Pittsburgh's Mayor, Tom Murphy, asked two City Council members to gather people and discuss this museum idea. Many groups helped fund the project. This included the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), the State of Pennsylvania, and The Heinz Endowments.
Building the Center
The land where the center stands was bought for just $1. This happened through a process called "eminent domain," where the government can buy private land for public use. The building had a special "topping off" ceremony on August 12, 2008. This event celebrates when the highest beam is placed on a new building.
Construction finished soon after. The August Wilson Center officially opened its doors to the public on September 17 and 19, 2009.
Who Designed the Building?
The August Wilson Center was designed by Allison G. Williams, a talented architect. She led a team from the San Francisco office of Perkins and Will. Her team included Greg Lehman, Sally Curtis, and Stacie Velten. They worked hard to create the beautiful building you see today.
Changes to the Center's Name
Over the years, the center's name has changed a few times. In February 2019, it was first called the August Wilson Cultural Center. But many people felt it was important to keep "African American" in the name. So, after an online petition, the name was changed again the next month. It became the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, which is its name today.
Overcoming Challenges
Financial Difficulties
After it opened, the center faced some money problems. It had trouble paying off the costs of building it. In 2014, there were worries that the center might have to close. A federal court even ruled that its assets could be sold to pay off debts.
Community Support and Recovery
In February 2014, many people who cared about the center started a website to raise money. After several court cases, the center was sold in November 2014 to Dollar Bank.
Just two days later, Dollar Bank sold the center to a group of non-profit organizations for $7.9 million. This group included several important foundations like the Heinz Endowments and the Richard King Mellon Foundation. Public groups, such as the Urban Redevelopment Authority, also helped.
There was a different plan earlier to sell the building to a private developer. This developer wanted to build a hotel on top of the center. But Pittsburgh's Mayor Bill Peduto and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald fought against this plan. They wanted the center to remain a cultural space. In the end, the local foundations were able to buy the building.
A Stronger Future
By 2019, the August Wilson Center was in much better financial shape. It had extra money at the end of 2018 and was saving up for the future. By 2020, the center was doing even better. Its operating budget had grown a lot, and it was earning more money from its own events. The center also had many more individual donors and was holding many more events. This shows how much the community values this important cultural space.
