Cultural boon

OUR OPINION
Published: May 12, 2008

After nine years, work has finally begun on the Hylton Performing Arts Center. We can’t wait until it is done.

A partnership between George Mason University, Prince William County and the City of Manassas, the center will be located on the Prince William campus of George Mason University.

The center has been dreamed of since the 1990s and is part of the vision for the future of the Manassas area.

While some have had their qualms about this partnership, we are glad to see the work begin. We think the center will bring more class and culture and attract more people to the area. 

The 86,000-square-foot center will feature multiple performance spaces; it will have a 1,166 seat main performance hall, a 300-seat theater and a visual arts theater.

Part of the seed of the idea for this theater came from the Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center which opened on the Prince William Campus of George Mason University in 1999. That project was also a combined effort between the county, the city and the college and it has turned out to be a tremendous success.

We think that undertaking a similar combined venture with the performing arts center will be a success. Spreading out the risk and the cost of projects such as these is a good idea. It gives multiple jurisdictions and organizations an incentive and responsibility to see something succeed. When an entire area gets involved in building something for the community, it has a great chance of working.

And the project looks on track to raise the $15 million permanent endowment and operating fund it is aiming for. So far $9.8 million has been raised. That leaves $5.2 million to raise by the opening date of 2010.

And the center will have partnerships that will be beneficial to members of the community.

For example, the center is partnering with the Didlake Foundation and the center’s 10,000-square-feet grand foyer will be named the Didlake Grand Foyer.

The Didlake foundation supports programs that help meet the long-term needs of people with disabilities in the county and Manassas. The performing arts center will give employment opportunities for some of the Didlake Foundation’s clients and Didlake will be able to hold events at the center.

It is the job of government to provide for our primary safety and security needs. But, when possible, local governments can also provide for some of the more esoteric wants of their communities. One of those wants is for more culture and more entertainment — something to make the community feel spiritually and mentally enriched.

Manassas, Prince William County and George Mason University have committed themselves to doing this for the residents of the area. We are excited to see the results.