Boston Center for the Arts facts for kids
The Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) is a special place in Boston, Massachusetts, where artists can create and share their work. It's located in the South End neighborhood. The BCA has many spaces for shows, rehearsals, and art exhibits. It's also home to the Boston Ballet and other art groups. Many artists and theater companies work here. The main building, called the Cyclorama, is very old and important. It's even listed as a historic place!
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Discovering the BCA's History
The BCA started in 1970. The city of Boston wanted to make the South End neighborhood better. So, they decided to create a new arts center there. Boston bought the old Cyclorama Building and other nearby buildings. They then let the new BCA use these buildings for a small yearly fee. The BCA is now in charge of taking care of this historic campus.
The Cyclorama Building's Past
The Cyclorama is a very large, round building. It was built in 1884 by Charles Amos Cummings and Willard T. Sears. Its first purpose was to show a huge painting called Battle of Gettysburg. This was a panoramic painting by a French artist named Paul Philippoteaux.
The building first looked like a fortress, with towers and a big arch. But over the years, it changed a lot. Between 1899 and 1922, it was used as a garage, a boxing ring, and even a car repair shop.
Later, in 1922, the Boston Flower Exchange bought the Cyclorama. They used it as their main office and for flower shows. During this time, the building's outside look was changed. The towers were removed, and the arch was taken down. The copper dome on top was replaced with a glass skylight.
How the BCA Began
In 1967, the city of Boston started planning a new arts center. This idea came from Royal Cloyd, a person who lived in the South End. He realized that artists needed affordable places to work. He had seen a similar arts center in Atlanta.
Because of Cloyd's idea, the city chose the Cyclorama building and other nearby theaters for the new arts center. Since then, the BCA has grown a lot. It is now one of Boston's most important arts places.
In 2004, the BCA worked with the Huntington Theatre Company. Together, they built the Stanford Calderwood Pavilion. This was the first new theater built in Boston in over 75 years! The Calderwood Pavilion stands where an old theater used to be. That old theater, called the National Theater, hosted famous performers like Sammy Davis Jr. and Duke Ellington.
Exploring BCA's Facilities
The BCA has many different spaces for artists and the public.
- The Cyclorama Building is the BCA's oldest building. It is rented out for many different events. These include fundraisers, trade shows, art exhibits, and even weddings. Famous art pieces have been shown here, like Judy Chicago’s The Dinner Party. The bottom floor of the Cyclorama is home to C.P Casting, a Boston casting company. It also houses the Community Music Center of Boston, which teaches music to thousands of people each year.
- The Stanford Calderwood Pavilion was built in 2004. It is a large building with two theaters. The Virginia Wimberly Theatre has 372 seats. The Nancy and Edward Roberts Theatre has 200 seats. It also has rehearsal rooms, a box office, and public areas. The Huntington Theatre Company uses the Wimberly Theatre for some of its shows. The BCA’s own theater companies perform in the Roberts Studio Theatre. The SpeakEasy Stage Company performs all its shows in the Roberts Studio Theatre.
- The Plaza Theaters are performance spaces for the BCA's Resident Theater Companies. These companies include The SpeakEasy Stage Company, Company One, The Theater Offensive, and The Pilgrim Theater. There is the Plaza Theater, which has about 150 fixed seats. There is also the Black Box Theater, which is a flexible space for about 50 people.
- The Artist Studios offer affordable workspaces for over 50 artists and art groups. Some groups here include the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company and The Art Connection.
- The Mills Gallery is a non-commercial art gallery. It has three separate spaces. The gallery hosts five big art shows each year. It also has smaller exhibits and events. It shows art from both new and well-known artists from all over the world.
