Carnegie Hall, Inc.

Carnegie Hall, Inc.

Carnegie Hall, Inc. is a regional cultural center located in Lewisburg, West Virginia, United States. It is within the Allegheny Mountains. Monroe, Greenbrier, Pocahontas and Summers Counties are included in Carnegie Hall, Inc.’s primary service area. This region encompasses approximately 2,900 square miles (7,500 km2) and 73,000 people.

Carnegie Hall, Inc. annually serves more than 75,000 patrons with live performances by artists from around the world, arts in education programming, classes, workshops, fine art exhibits, an independent film series and more. Carnegie Hall, Inc. is one of only eight Carnegie Halls still in continuous use in the world.

Mission statement

Carnegie Hall, Inc.’s signature slogan is Bringing the Arts to Life! Carnegie Hall, Inc. adopted its current mission statement on April 17. 2006: Carnegie Hall is a regional center for the visual and performing arts. Its mission is to: present and promote artistic performances and exhibitions, educate the community in and about the arts and encourage and support active community participation in the arts.

History

In 1902, Lewisburg resident James Laing approached steel baron and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie (both men grew up in the same town in Scotland) with the request for support to replace a structure that had burned to the ground. Carnegie agreed to donate $33,000 to build Carnegie Hall as a classroom building for the Lewisburg Female Institute, later the Greenbrier College for Women. Greenbrier College for Women closed in 1972 and Carnegie Hall became part of the state run Greenbrier Center, a facility for the mentally and emotionally disadvantaged, for ten years.

In the early 1980s, rumors surfaced that the building was to be condemned and razed. A group of area residents organized to form Carnegie Hall, Inc., a not-for-profit regional arts and education center, which was incorporated in February 1983. For two years volunteers worked to make the building functional and safe. The first paid employee, Charles Goddard, was hired as Managing Director and served from 1985 until 1989. Performances and classes were organized and offered to the public. In 1989, Vivian Conly became Executive Director of the organization. Momentum continued to build, interest and support increased and staff was added to better plan and execute programs requested by area communities. A $3.4M restoration of the historic building was undertaken in 1996 and completed in June 1997 (after a major fire on December 24, 1996 destroyed much of the building). Conly resigned in 2000 and Bruce Loving, Christy Clemons-Rodgers and Bradley Burck each served as President and CEO of the Hall in the ensuing four years. Susan Adkins became Executive Director in July 2005 and currently holds this position. The annual budget of the Hall grew from $89,000 in 1989 to $820,000 in 2006. The Hall received a $70,000 grant from the State of West Virginia in 2006.

Architecture and renovations

Carnegie Hall, Inc.’s original structure was designed by architects Barrett & Thompson in 1902 in the Greek Revival style, characterized foremost by its Ionic order portico with pediment, shouldered architrave trim, tall first floor windows and cornice with dentils.[1] Keeping with this style, the remainder of the structure is composed of simple, rectangular blocks with flat roofs.[2]

A major renovation was designed by architects TAG Galyean and Kreps & Kreps (now Kreps & Zachwieja) and completed on June 18, 1997 to accommodate an elevator, administrative offices and an accessible entrance to the building.

In 2006, renovations to the front entrance were completed to comply with ADA guidelines, including a ramp, floor leveling and parking.

Notable performances

Support

Awards

Programs and partnerships

Services

Performances

Arts education

For teachers

Exhibits

Carnegie Hall, Inc. houses three galleries with rotating exhibits by world-renowned two- and three-dimensional artists: the Auditorium Lobby Gallery, Museum Gallery and Old Stone Room Gallery. Artwork is exhibited year-round and is free to the public.

Events

Other buildings named Carnegie Hall

Seven other concert halls also bear Carnegie's name, six of them in the USA. There is Carnegie Hall, a 540-seat venue in Andrew Carnegie's native Dunfermline (the first Carnegie Hall in the world); and the famous Carnegie Hall in New York City.

In addition, there are five Carnegie Halls (formerly six) in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area where Carnegie first resided in America and made his fortune. These are:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Blumenson, J: “Identifying American Architecture”, page 27. W. W. Norton & Company, 1981
  2. ↑ Whiffen, M: “American Architecture Since 1780 : A Guide to the Styles”, page 39. MIT Press, 1992

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