Stevens Center: A Brief History
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts recently announced a $35 million plan to upgrade the Stevens Center, last renovated in 1983.
The Stevens Center has been a fixture on Fourth Street since its birth in 1929 as a silent movie theater. It has hosted world-class and local performances, and now continues to bring entertainment and an arts education under the ownership of the UNCSA.
“The Stevens Center is really critical in extending the life downtown and the commercial possibilities downtown,” says Katharine Laidlaw, Chief Marketing Officer at UNCSA.
As of right now, fundraising is still in its early stages, but Laidlaw says they plan to conduct a market study to gauge local interest in new programming, ticket prices and infrastructure needs.
“Vibrant downtowns are alive 18 hours a day,” says Laidlaw. “They have both a daytime and nighttime life.” She hopes that the Stevens Center will increase this activity and benefit not just the UNCSA, but the city and community.
Learn more about the history of the Stevens Center here.