The Randolph County Community Arts Center and The Old Brick Playhouse, two cultural landmarks of downtown Elkins, have been named to the West Virginia Historic Theatre Trail.
The historic theaters are featured in a color brochure being distributed around the state and beyond to promote tourism to West Virginia.
"We are proud to be part of this trail and featured in the brochure," said RCCAC Executive Director Beth King. "Both the Arts Center and The Old Brick are great local examples of adaptive reuse of historic buildings."
"The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia has done a tremendous job selecting sites to showcase the wealth of historic art venues in our state and making them easily accessible, not only for our residents but for the many tourists visiting West Virginia each year," King said. "Highlighting these historic buildings as hubs of art activity demonstrates the importance historic preservation and the arts play in our communities."
"This innovative project not only celebrates and documents historic arts structures throughout the state but also contributes to sharing the enormous amount of art produced in West Virginia with tourists passing through," said Old Brick Executive Director Missy Armentrout McCollam. "On behalf of The Old Brick, I can honestly say that we are delighted to contribute our efforts to sustain a vibrant and dynamic downtown Elkins. Additionally, we are exceedingly grateful and honored for the opportunity to work with the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia on this exciting historic theater trails project."
The Arts Center opened in 2001, located in the former St. Brendan Catholic Church, which was built in 1928. Walter F. Martens, the architect who designed the governor's executive mansion in Charleston, designed the church using a Romanesque Revival style. The building features locally quarried sandstone blocks on the outside with a border of stone relief angels around the entire building. The Arts Center hosts 16 exhibits, 24 concerts and year-round art and music classes.
The Old Brick Playhouse is located in the former Randolph Garage Co., built in 1919. Beginning in 1992, the playhouse, along with the Elkins Area Community Theatre, began presenting theatrical experiences and educational opportunities for children and youth through both local and touring programs.
The Old Brick also presents Vaudevillian-style entertainment similar to that found during the age of the Silo Circuit, popular during the railroad era in many small rural towns such as Elkins.
The Old Brick Playhouse was recently presented the Coming Up Taller Award, a national initiative that recognizes and supports outstanding out-of-school and after-school arts and humanities programs for children and youth.
The Coming Up Taller project of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH), in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). In addition, The Old Brick Playhouse also won the West Virginia Governor's Leadership in the Arts Awards for 2010.
The official announcement of the new trail took place in Sutton in June. Representatives of historic theaters attended to celebrate.
The stunning, color brochure was designed by West Virginia graphic artist Jessie Courson, showcasing sites that are both interesting and accessible for heritage tourism as well as educational to local residents. The trail theaters are listed at the West Virginia Department of Commerce Travel and Recreation's website at wvcommerce.org/travel/default.aspx.
Only 22 theaters in the state were named to the West Virginia Historic Theatre Trail, which was developed by the state Historic Preservation Office and Preservation Alliance of West Virginia in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
It was financed with a Preserve America grant. The program receives federal funds from the National Park Service. All historic sites included in this trail are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia is a statewide grassroots organization supporting historic preservation in the mountain state.
The RCCAC is a non-profit organization promoting and supporting the arts in Randolph County and the surrounding areas.
The RCCAC is supported by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the National Endowment of the Arts and the West Virginia Division of Culture and History.
