Funding for Shakespeare Theatre Redevelopment Approved by State Bond Commission
https://americanglobecenter.org/
On March 31st Mayor Laura Hoydick announced that Bonded funds in the amount of $3 million or the redevelopment of the Shakespeare Theatre site were approved by the State Bond Commission at their regularly scheduled meeting. The funds will be distributed by the State Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD).
“These grant funds will help us secure a tremendous opportunity to reinforce our commitment to the arts and acknowledge the significance of the performing arts as part of the cultural fabric of Stratford. From the unfortunate loss of the theater to arsonists, we have a renewed opportunity to make this location come alive once more as a center for the arts, and I thank the Bond Commission and Governor Ned Lamont for considering our request for funding to help make that happen. I also appreciate the bipartisan work of our legislative delegation including Sen. Kevin Kelly, Sen. Dennis Bradley, Rep. Ben McGorty, Rep. Joe Gresko and Rep. Phil Young to make this happen.” Mayor Laura Hoydick, “While a final plan for what will appear at the Shakespeare property has not been decided on, it is clear from the series of forums we held since 2019 that the community is looking for an arts facility or black box theater, and retaining a portion as open space for fairs and festivals.”
An Official Comment from the American Globe Center:
“The American Globe Center is eager to coordinate with the town leadership to advance the planning for the Shakespeare Property. The State bonded funds could potentially finance the AGC’s Kickoff Prospectus, which covers the following:
• Site Planning – site surveys, economic impact, environmental, parking and transportation studies
• IDEA (Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility) and Public Health Consultants
• Complete Architectural Design – plans, renderings, and scale model for display
• Design Symposium for town and state stakeholders to weigh in
• Project Management and PR
• Timber Framing Workshops – including building sample Globe audience bay on premise
• Globe Exhibition and Website – permanent physical exhibition for public
• Business Plans and Feasibility Study
• Capital Campaign Start Up – leverage for matching funds, funding consultant
• Globe Challenge Endowment for Education – challenge for matched funds
• Initial Construction Prep for the Property
• And More
To highlight one element of the above, the Timber Framing Workshops would in themselves be a draw to Stratford right away, and culminate in the construction of one section of the Globe re-creation as a showpiece. This would feature Peter McCurdy and our other British colleagues who built the Globe re-creation in London.
The State funds would be an excellent investment in the future success of the American Globe Center. If the town were to carry forward its initial plans for an RFP, the American Globe Center team would be able to lay out a detailed plan focused on economic development for Stratford and for the State, and a true profitable “return” on that $3 million investment.”
