Virginia Performing Arts Foundation

City after city across America have used their performing arts facilities and organizations as a key and essential element to help energize and revitalize their downtown areas, and to give them new and exciting life. By constructing and/or renovating theatres as part of a master plan, people now return to their center city to enjoy the arts that are so important to the quality of life. Conventions and tourists flock to the revitalized city, helping to create an economic engine that boosts jobs and opportunities. New and renovated facilities provide greater educational opportunities for people of all ages.

The old saying that you must invest money to make money is proven, time after time,
in cities like Dayton, Dallas, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Louisville and Philadelphia. These cities have experienced a re-birth because of a vision that became a reality through the determination of a partnership between the public and private sectors.

It has been said, “Build it and they will come.”
Get ready to come.

The facilities in the Foundation’s plan are a key part of a much larger, even more comprehensive Master Plan for the center of our Capital City.

At one time, the corridor of Broad Street and Grace Street between 8th and 4th Streets was the bustling heart of the Southeast’s most important city. Now, that corridor is dormant, unattractive and uninviting. But, not for long. City leaders and business leaders, working through Richmond Renaissance, have studied urban renewal success stories around the country, and have developed a Master Plan for this once-proud corridor to return to the status of a place where people want to be. The Plan is anchored by the new $160 million Convention Center. It reflects the complete renovation of Broad and Grace between 8th and 4th, and will be the epicenter for a ripple of revitalization that will spread for many surrounding blocks.

And, there’s more. With the Biotech Park to the north, VCU to the west, State offices to the east and the riverfront to the south, the redevelopment of the Capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia is well underway. Yes, there’s still much to do. But, we’re on our way…