The Central Ohio Symphony and the Strand Theatre and Cultural Arts Association are announcing plans for the Symphony to move next to the historic Strand Theatre in historic downtown Delaware, Ohio.
Left to right, David Robbins, Strand Theatre and Cultural Arts Association president; Warren Hyer, Central Ohio Symphony executive director; Dick Brulotte, Symphony board member; Linda Shearer, Symphony board president; Bo Rabby and Ada Payne, Symphony board members. The gong helped to make a joyful noise celebrating the Symphony’s move to downtown Delaware. (Central Ohio Symphony)
“We are very pleased with the opportunities this move presents,” said Warren W. Hyer, executive director of the Central Ohio Symphony. “This gives us a downtown presence and a chance to interact more closely with the Delaware community.”
“The Symphony’s move is a high note for downtown Delaware as well as the long-term effort to create a culture arts district anchored by the Strand,’ added David O. Robbins, president of the nonprofit Strand Theatre and Cultural Arts Association, which owns the 94-year-old theatre. “We hope the Symphony’s move will inspire other arts organizations to consider a greater downtown presence.”
The Symphony expects to move into its new offices in late summer. “It’s going to take a lot of volunteer work to get the space ready,” Hyer said, adding that he and Symphony board members have been working on the project for more than 18 months.
The Symphony is the first nonprofit arts organization to move into the Strand block.
“This is an important partnership for the arts in Delaware,” Hyer said. “We also hope to have some fun with the new space. We look forward to participating in monthly First Friday celebrations and other downtown events. We may even hold a small event of our own from time to time.”
Ohio Wesleyan University transferred ownership of the theatre to the Strand Theatre and Cultural Arts Association in 2008 to help support the creation of a community-supported arts district, said Robbins, who also serves as the university’s provost. Ohio Wesleyan had owned the theatre since 2002, when it was gifted to the university.
Currently, the association board is studying potential architectural renovations to the 27,000-square-foot Strand, with an eye toward creating opportunities for visual, performing, and fine arts programs. Fund raising to support the renovations is expected to begin after the architectural review.
The new symphony office will be located at 24 East Winter Street in downtown Delaware, Ohio.
Information courtesy of Ohio Wesleyan University.
