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 for many different types of art. You can find it in Erie County, New York.
This art center is inside a very old building. It used to be a church called The Baptist Church of Springville. The church was built way back in 1869. It has a cool style called Late Gothic Revival. This means it looks a bit like old European churches. The building is made of red brick with nice limestone details. It also has a tall, square bell tower.
In 2008, this historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect important places in the United States. A few years later, in 2017, some other buildings nearby were also added. These buildings were once part of the church property.
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The Story of Springville Center for the Arts
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 group called the Springville Players. They were a community theater group. Many artists and actors met to plan this new art center.
Their first home was an old shoe store. They turned it into a "black box theater." This is a simple theater space, often painted black. It can be set up in many ways for different shows. The building also had a gallery to show art. Soon, they offered lots of fun programs. These included plays for young people, movie nights, and art workshops. They even had a group for writers and concerts.
In June 2007, the organization bought the old Baptist church building. This is where the center is now. They are still working to fix up the outside and inside of the church. But they already hold many events there.
The Springville Players: A Theater Group
The Springville Players started putting on live plays in 1966. Their very first play was "Mr. Roberts." For over 30 years, they performed in different places. They used the Springville Griffith High School auditorium and other temporary spots.
Later, they rented a space at 35 East Main Street. Each year, they usually put on a drama, a comedy, and a musical. A group of volunteers helps organize all the shows. Since 2003, they have also added a special play for young actors in the summer.
The Harold L. Olmsted Art Gallery
When the Springville Center for the Arts started in 1998, they added a community art gallery. Volunteers helped choose about twelve art shows each year. The gallery was named after Harold L. Olmsted. He was a famous local architect, landscape designer, and artist.
The Harold L. Olmsted Gallery officially opened in the new church building on August 10, 2010. It still shows amazing artwork by artists from the local area.
See also
