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County, College Reach Agreement on Performing Arts Center

Last Updated on Oct 11, 2019 at 10:06am | Economic Development
Article courtesy of NCWV Media - The Republican. Staff Reporter: Joseph Hauger.
 
 
The Board of Garrett County Commissioners and Garrett College Board of Trustees have each ratified a memorandum of understanding that paves the way for construction of a Community Education and Performing Arts Center on Garrett College’s main campus.
 
The Garrett Lakes Arts Festival, Garrett County Public Schools, and Garrett County Arts Council also have ratified partner agreements connecting each organization with the facility, which is expected to open in 2022. The agreements, which cover the performing arts center facilities housed within the larger Community Education and Performing Arts Center, are the result of a year-long process to outline the various partners’ responsibilities and financial contributions to the initiative.
 
The facility will include renovation of a space that previously served as the college gymnasium and expansion of the footprint to include state-of-the-art space for the college’s Continuing Education and Workforce Development division.
 
 
Architectural and engineering design work began last year with prior authorized state funding and a local match from the county. However, both county and college officials indicated a desire to have an MOU in place before moving beyond design work.
 
The design process for the Community Education and Performing Arts Center is being led by The DLR Group, an architectural firm out of Washington, D.C. The project is centered around the college’s old gymnasium, which will be renovated into a state-of-the-art proscenium theater that will seat approximately 450 patrons.
 
A 16,000-square-foot addition to the theater will feature a 2,000-square-foot conference center that can also be used as a recital hall, black box theatre, and reception venue. New educational spaces are also included, including a 16-seat piano lab donated by the Community Trust Foundation, as well as a sound and lighting booth.