This 62,880 square foot, state-of-the-art Center will contain a 550-seat theater for educational, civic and entertainment programs, as well as a Ballroom/Banquet Hall, Great Hall, Art Galleries, Gift Shop, and an onsite restaurant offering catering services. The facility will also offer meeting places and classrooms to support teaching of dance, pottery, textiles, photography, music, literature, aerobics, visual arts and computer technology. Additional space will be leased by the City of Suffolk for Parks and Recreation offices, the Center for Seniors and the Early Childhood Development Commission.
- Galleries
Secured, environmentally controlled spaces, the Galleries will feature exhibitions in painting, pottery, textile and photography by the region's finest artists. These galleries will be free and open to the public.
- Classes
The Center will sponsor, or offer in cooperation with other art organizations, a variety of classes in art, pottery and textiles. From beginner to master workshops, the classes will be taught in artist friendly studios by the region's most respected instructors. Artist-in-residence programs may also be established.
- Art
Studio art classes in drawing and painting in various media will be offered at the Center.
- Pottery
The pottery classrooms will feature clay presses, work tables, pottery wheels, glazing preparation areas, and a kiln for firing. An artist-in-residence program may be established.
- Textile Arts
The Center will offer classes and workshops in quilting, fabric weaving and printing.
- Photography Studio
The Center will offer a variety of photography classes to include all age groups and skill levels. The Center may also enter into an agreement with various schools to recognize the classes for academic credits. Classes will be taught by professionals and certified instructors. Classes may culminate in an exhibition in the Center's gallery. The photo studio may also be rented during daytime hours by area professionals in need of lab time.
- Literary Arts
The Center will offer classes and workshops in the literary arts. Classes include: creative writing, poetry writing, and screenplay writing. The classes will be taught by qualified instructors and may qualify for school credits. The Center will also sponsor book signing events.
- Theater
Seating 550 people, the state-of-the-art theater will be used for a variety of performances including musicals, dramas, comedies, classical plays, as well as children's plays and poetry readings. It will also offer the opportunity for a Suffolk Forum, lectures and corporate meeting space. This theater will be rented to both community and professional organizations to generate income for the Center.
- Dance
The Center will rent the theater to a variety of community and professional dance organizations which offer a variety of dance styles. Programming will likely include both the Richmond and Norfolk Ballet, as well as local dance recitals.
- Music
The Center will rent the theater to organizations and promoters for musical concerts. Music genres will include Classical, Symphony, Jazz, Big Band, Bluegrass, Gospel, Country, Rock, New Age, Latin, Dixieland, R&B and Pop. A variety of music classes, both instrumental and vocal, will be taught in the music studio which features small rooms for individual instruction, as well as a larger room for ensemble work.
- Business/Multi-Media Events
The Center will rent the theater to civic and corporate groups whenever possible. The theater will feature a projection system and Internet links so as to allow for live broadcast to and from the Center. Therefore, international corporations could conduct live conferences with their home offices throughout the world. The ability to provide live broadcasting should encourage further uses of the theater to include 1940's type radio broadcasts, live Grand Old Opry type shows, town hall meetings, debates and forum programs.
- City-Sponsored Events
It is anticipated that the City of Suffolk may elect to utilize the facility for a number of existing and newly developed programs, meetings, and special events. Also, other local galleries and civic organizations may rent the Center as a possible venue for existing or expanded activities.
- Special/Seasonal Events
The Center may offer a series of events to include seasonal events, story telling festivals, art festivals, foreign exchanges, summer youth art camps, appraisal fairs, and a Suffolk Forum program series.
- Ballroom/Banquet Hall
The Center's Ballroom/Banquet Hall will feature 3,600 square feet of elegant dining, dancing, reception or meeting space.
- Great Hall and Lobby
The Great Hall and Galleries may accommodate up to 6oo guests for receptions, weddings, banquets, civic/corporate meetings, dances and workshops/lectures. The Lobby, located on the first floor, offers additional elegant space for up to 200 guests. The Center's Boardroom, and other appropriate spaces, will be made available for public rental throughout the year.
- Gift Shop
The Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts will have a gift shop featuring unique art work created primarily by local and regional artists.
- Restaurant
The Center will feature an onsite restaurant and catering service. The restaurant will provide lunch and evening dining. Catering services will include food and beverages for all meetings and reception events scheduled in the Center's boardroom, ballroom, and meeting rooms located throughout the facility.
- Technology Lab
A technology lab is included in the master plan for the Center. The lab will allow citizens to advance their knowledge in computer-related hardware, as well as home, office, graphic and other specialized software. It will also provide accessibility to the Internet.
- The Cultural Arts Amphitheater
Long range plans call for an amphitheater to be built, providing a space for outdoor performance, classes, special events, craft shows, storytelling festivals, and children's summer art camps.
- School Museum
The Center will feature a 1920 era classroom museum complete with related historical items from the Suffolk and Nansemond County Schools.
- Leased Office Space
The Suffolk Department of Parks & Recreation and the Early Childhood Development Commission will be housed in the Center. The building will also include The Center for Seniors.
- Income for the Suffolk Center
Once the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts is opened, income for the Center will be generated from space rentals, class registration fees, gift shop sales, membership dues, and ongoing fundraising efforts. The SCCA, L.P., along with the Corporate Board and paid staff, will oversee the Suffolk Center's operations.
Please note that this list is not all-inclusive, nor does it present a time line in which the various programs might be phased in. This proposal is only intended to suggest programming possibilities at the Center.
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