The long-awaited rebirth of the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center officially began today with a ceremonial ground-breaking to commemorate the start of construction work.
“The waiting is over,” Mayor Jim Newberry said. “A few days ago, the Council and I moved the Lyric off the drawing board, where it has been languishing for well over 10 years, and now it’s time to dig in and start construction. This is a great day in the East End, and for our community.”
Joining the Mayor for the ground-breaking today were members of the Lyric Theatre Task Force, including its chair Juanita Betz-Peterson and long-time member Robert Jefferson; the Lyric Theatre Business Plan Work Group; and several members of the Urban County Council, including First District Councilmember Andrea James, who has been actively involved in the Lyric project. Music was provided by Joan Brannon and Friends and Dr. Shawn-Allyce White.
Newberry also welcomed a group of citizens to the ground-breaking. “This project has a lot of community partners, but the citizens in the East End are some of our most important partners,” Newberry said. “They just refused to give up on the Lyric.”
The Lyric is viewed by many as the cultural anchor for East End neighborhoods, and as a cultural icon by many African-Americans throughout the community. It opened in 1948 and closed its doors in 1963, but during the years it operated it hosted the likes of Duke Ellington and Ray Charles.
Over the last two decades, hundreds of local citizens have worked on or provided input to plans to renovate and re-open the Lyric.
Council gave final approval July 2 to start construction on the renovation and expansion of the Lyric, which is expected to cost approximately $6 million.
Once it is completed in the fall of 2010, the 29,000-square-foot facility will celebrate diverse cultures, with a special emphasis on African-American cultural heritage, through historical and art exhibits, film, theater, musical performances and a variety of programming for multi-purpose space, for example, music classes.
The Mayor has proposed that a 15-member board that he would appoint, will oversee the operation of the Lyric and raise private funds and seek grant funding for programming and staff. The Lyric board will share some staff with LexArts, Lexington’s premier cultural development, advocacy and fund raising organization.
Newberry said the Lyric will complement other work ongoing in the East End, including plans for new recreational opportunities with the Legacy Trail, which will complement the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden; the opening last fall of the William Wells Brown Elementary School and its community center; significant additions in affordable housing, including the ongoing redevelopment of Bluegrass Aspendale; and road improvements.
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PHOTO CAPTIONS: (Top photo) Task force members, work group members and elected officials officially broke ground Thursday. (Top inserted photo) Mayor Jim Newberry spoke about importance of the Lyric to Lexington. (Bottom inserted photo) Juanita Betz-Peterson, Chair of the Lyric Theater Task Force spoke about people loving the Lyric.
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