About the Center for the Arts

Our Mission

The Center for the Arts is established to provide arts-related organizations with an environment to maximize their programming potential to stimulate the community's cultural growth. It provides the community with a venue to foster an understanding of and appreciation for the arts, enhance artistic expression and communication, and to enrich community interaction.

General Information

The Springfield Center for the Arts is itself a product of the human drive to create. The organization grew from the collective desires of arts organizations and arts patrons to build a new facility that would meet the physical needs of the organizations and serve as a cultural hub for the City of Springfield. What began as a dream is becoming a reality as musical, theatrical and dance performance groups, visual artists, writers, and photographers all have a place to call home.

The Building Building

Originally built as a Masonic Temple in 1909, and expanded in 1960, the Center for the Arts is a 80,000 square foot facility that houses four major performance spaces and numerous gathering areas.

(Click on room name for image)

  • Levi, Ray & Shoup Theatre
    This nearly 500-seat performance space features an orchestra pit along with dressing rooms and associated production rooms.
  • Theater 2
    Located on the second floor, this room features a special dance floor. The space will be used for rehearsals, song and dance practice, speech contests, and other lecture programs. It can also serve as a movie theater, showing art and classic films.
  • Theater 3
    This third-floor room is the most versatile in the building. Its stage and balcony are cozy enough to host small theatrical productions, concerts, and receptions, yet spacious enough to accommodate 200 guests for a sit-down meal.
  • The Club Room
    Also located on the third floor, this space's "Jazz Club" atmosphere will host smaller acoustical performances for audiences numbering 150 or less. The room can also be used for meetings, receptions and rehearsals. An adjoining space can offer cocktails and snacks.
  • The Dining Room
    A full kitchen and seating for more than 400 guests is located on the lower level.
  • The Board Room
    This large room on the third floor is available for board meetings or other smaller gatherings.
  • H.D. Smith Art Gallery
    Gallery space with appropriate exhibit surfaces and lighting displays various works and can provide an interesting setting for gatherings and receptions.
  • Polly Roesch Social Room
    Located on the second floor and behind Theater 1 balcony, this room provides an intimate atmosphere for pre- and post-theater receptions and meals, meetings, and other small gatherings.
  • Reyhan Reception Area
    This main floor gathering area is ideal for pre- and post-event gatherings with its colorful carpeting, bar area, and view of downtown.
3D view of Center for the Arts

Architect: Graham & Hyde Architects, Inc. Springfield
Sound Consultants: Kirkegaard & Associates, Chicago
Theater and Lighting Consultants: Schuler & Shook, Chicago

History

In the early 1980s, Kay Feurer, then Executive Director of the Springfield Area Arts Council, imagined a cultural center at the Springfield Masonic Temple. But, at the time, this vision was seemingly unattainable. In 1999 Mayor Karen Hasara formed a group to envision the direction of the city in the next 20 years. With direct input from many citizens, the Springfield 2020 committee placed a home for the arts in downtown Springfield at the top of the list, further strengthening the concepts already in place.

Then in 2001, through the generous gift of Carolyn Oxtoby and Stephen Bartholf, the Masonic Temple was purchased, and the not-for-profit organization Springfield Arts Center, Inc. began the quest to transfigure the facility into the Center for the Arts. Additional funding was secured from the Illinois Arts Council for architectural planning and consultation. Recognizing the immense public benefit this project held for the people of Springfield, the State of Illinois awarded a grant of $5.5 million to begin the renovation. Disbursement of state monies came in 2003, and renovation work began almost immediately.

Springfield 2020, the city’s master plan for urban development, identified a multi-use art complex as essential for continued community growth. Even more direct about the need was the American Institute of Architects’ R/UDAT: Springfield 2002 report that found:

"Downtown Springfield should become the entertainment district for the entire community offering cultural activities, dining (both casual and upscale), outdoor café experiences, live music, street performances and pleasant strolling. . . Rehabilitation of the Masonic Temple as a performance venue should be a high priority. There are limited facilities of this type and size in Springfield and the location of such a center in the downtown would strengthen the downtown’s position as the cultural center of the community. It would also provide a powerful anchor for the developing 6th Street retail corridor."

Administration

 Trustees
  • Thomas Appleton, President
  • Dennis Bringuet
  • Tom Frost
  • Dave Lazarides
  • Grace Luttrell Nanavati, Vice-President
  • Marsha Narmont
  • Tom Ryder, Secretary
  • Ron Sholes
  • Kate Ward, Treasurer
Staff

Resident Arts Organizations

The Center accommodates the space and storage needs of local arts and cultural organizations, many of whom either lacked permanent facilities or whose former facilities placed undue burdens on limited operating budgets. Participating groups include:

Finding Us

The Center for the Arts is located at 420 S. 6th Street, Springfield, Illinois. Click the link below for a map and driving directions.

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Map of 420 S 6th St
Springfield, IL 62701-1808