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Lauderhill arts center expected to open this summer
Delays in construction held it back by a few months, but the city is getting ready for a soft opening of the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center this summer.
City officials and staff hope that the facility, on the northeast corner of Sunrise Boulevard and State Road 7, will become a destination point. The plan is to have a soft opening in June or July and an official opening in October.
The city has signed a contract with Professional Facilities Management, which manages similar facilities in nine states, including the Coral Springs Center for the Arts. The center’s funding and program were both discussion topics at a recent city meeting.
The center will have a 1,200-seat theater, a 10,000-square-foot library, banquet facilities, an art gallery and meeting rooms.
“There is a need for a venue of this size for performing artists who are local or have a local following,” said Commissioner Ken Thurston. “We have a lot of churches in South Florida; they have programs and events. This will be a perfect venue for them.”
Mayor Richard Kaplan wanted the city to ensure that local performing groups are able to use the facility.
“It is very important to give local orchestras and ballet companies a place to call home,” said James Singleton, PFM president. “… We will have a diverse mix of programs, something that will make economic sense.”
The facility was built for $14.9 million, with $5.8 million coming from a city bond and a matching $5.8 million from a county parks bond. Funding for the library of about $3 million came from a county library bond referendum.
The facility will be funded through the city’s general fund this year, but the city expects to find a dedicated funding source for it soon.
Commissioner Hayward Benson mentioned forming a foundation or a trust to provide support.
“Taking it out of the hands of the City Commission will make it easier for folks to donate money,” he said. “We are trying to make it a destination point; everybody should be allowed to play a part in it.”