HOPE FOR YOUTH
ARTS CENTER
AN ARTS HUB FOR SPRINGFIELD YOUTH.
In the City of Innovation and Vibrancy, Springfield youth are lacking sufficient opportunities to participate in the arts. In Gateway Cities like Springfield, students without adequate arts involvement find themselves trailing in academic achievement and engaging in risky behavior when left unsupervised after-school.
Imagine a space in the heart of our city, that is:
Open to ALL youth
Offers FREE programming in all disciplines of art
Directly CONNECTS youth with existing community arts programs
Hope for Youth & Families (HYF) is undertaking a massive project to thoroughly transform and reinvent the former CityStage, a 39,500 square foot facility housed in downtown Springfield. The new Arts Center will address the critical need for accessible and equitable arts programs by serving as a creative community hub for youth arts organizations in Springfield and the surrounding region. New programs will complement existing offerings and emphasize Springfield's multi-cultural community, ensuring inclusivity and fostering cultural awareness, sensitivity, and affirmation.
The Arts Center is designed to provide flexible learning, rehearsal, and performance spaces with state of the art equipment. This one-of-a-kind space will advance the missions of HYF and partner organizations who all have a central driving force - the desire to see youth and families in Springfield THRIVE.
PROJECT DETAILS.
500-seat Mainstage Theater
110-seat Blackbox Theater
2 Large Rehearsal Rooms
2 Medium Rehearsal Rooms
6 Individual Practice Rooms
Recording Studio & Media Production Room
Digital Arts Classroom
Visual Arts Studio
Photography Studio
Child Care Space
Teen Cafe/Lounge
Catering Kitchen & Service Counter
$13M Overall Budget
$3.7M Already Committed, including:
$3.7M Grant from Bolduc Schuster
Family Foundation
Breaking Ground:
Already in progress
Anticipated Completion:
Fall 2025
MAKING AN IMPACT.
EXPAND ARTS OPPORTUNITIES
FOR YOUTH
Arts programming can be an important contributor to student success in school, and yet arts programs are often the first to fall victim to budget cuts. Young people who may not be interested in sports deserve just as much opportunity and access to programs that enrich their lives and encourage them to express themselves. The Arts Center will allow students to discover new art forms, sparking the curiosity & creativity that is necessary to their personal growth.
CATALYST FOR
A VIBRANT
ARTS COMMUNITY
Anchored by the Arts Center in the south and New England Public Media in the north, these three blocks will become Springfield’s Cultural District. With current dining staples nearby, and the great potential for artist lofts and affordable housing, the opening of the Arts Center will stimulate further development of this area. Coffee shops, delis, and other small businesses are bound to spring up and are historically successful in districts like this.
COLLABORATION
BETWEEN ALL ARTS ORGANIZATION
The new Arts Center combines innovation and collaboration by offering a one-of-a-kind hub for arts organizations across the city to come together in a shared space. Our current Advisory Board and future partners are a who’s who of Springfield’s creative community and together, we will inspire and empower youth through different disciplines of the arts. The Arts Center will provide the much needed space our partners need, while expanding their reach to more students.
