Springville Center for the Arts facts for kids
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The Baptist Church of Springville
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Springville Center for the Arts, June 2009
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 37 N. Buffalo St., Springville, New York |
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| Area | 0.34 acres (0.14 ha) |
| Built | 1869 |
| Architect | Porter, Cyrus K.; et al. |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 08001140 (original) 100001583 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 5, 2008 |
| Boundary increase | September 11, 2017 |
The Springville Center for the Arts is a special place in Springville, New York. It's a non-profit center where people can enjoy and create many types of art. This center is located in a very old building. It used to be a Baptist church.
The church building was built in 1869. It has red bricks and a style called Late Gothic Revival. You can see its tall, square bell tower. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. Later, in 2017, some other nearby buildings that were part of the church property were also added to the list.
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Discovering the Arts Center's History
The Springville Center for the Arts first opened its doors in 1998. It started in a small storefront. The idea for the center came from a local theater group called the Springville Players. They held meetings with artists and actors who wanted more art activities in their town.
The first location was an old shoe store. It was changed into a "black box" theater. This is a simple theater space, often painted black, that can be set up in many ways. It also had a gallery for art shows and a reception area. Soon, the center offered many programs. These included plays for young people, movie showings, art workshops, and concerts.
In June 2007, the organization bought the old Baptist church building. Since then, all their programs have been held there. They have been working hard to fix up the outside of the church. They are also making big changes inside to create more spaces for art.
The Springville Players: A Theater Story
The Springville Players started performing live plays in 1966. Their very first show was "Mr. Roberts." For 32 years, they performed in different places. These included the Springville Griffith High School auditorium and the Springville Griffith Elementary School.
Later, they moved into a rented space on East Main Street. The group usually puts on one drama, one comedy, and one musical each season. A team of volunteers helps to organize all these shows. In 2003, they started adding a special summer play just for young actors.
The Harold L. Olmsted Art Gallery
When the Arts Center was created in 1998, it also added a community art gallery. Volunteers helped to choose and set up about 12 art shows each year. This gallery was named the Harold L. Olmsted Gallery. He was a famous local architect, landscape designer, and artist.
The gallery was officially opened at the new church building on August 10, 2010. It continues to show amazing artwork by artists from the local area.
See Also
