RBTL’S PROJECT RESTOURATION AWARDED $2.9 MILLION BY THE NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS
Rochester, NY (01/13/2025) – The Rochester Broadway Theatre League (RBTL) announced today it has received a grant award of $2,954,000 from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support PROJECT RESTOURATION. This grant is part of a capital project funding announcement by NYSCA, which totals over $86 million to 134 capital projects across New York State. RBTL’s restorations will also be funded in part by capital campaigns, sponsorships, operating surplus, state and local grants and foundations and other aid. The total cost of the project is estimated at $65 million.
RBTL’s PROJECT RESTOURATION is transforming the West Herr Performing Arts Center, which is also home to the West Herr Auditorium Theatre, into a multistage, beautifully restored 1920s-era complex. Through restoration and revitalization, RBTL strives to provide a renowned entertainment venue for the entire Rochester community and region.
“Our arts and culture sector is a powerhouse, inspiring the world with innovation and creativity,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “By investing in our museums, our theaters and our arts centers, we enrich our communities, strengthen local economies and improve tourism all over the State.”
Phase One of PROJECT RESTOURATION is underway, focusing on enhanced accessibility, adaptability and amenities. Work on the new rear entrance is almost complete and will allow for easier access and accessibility to both the Performing Arts Center and Auditorium Theatre. Phase One also included refurbishing two elevators and creating a crossover point, providing long-overdue access to the second-floor Theatre lobby and an additional second-floor Theatre lounge/concession space with new men’s and women’s restrooms, plus a family/all-gender restroom. Preliminary plans are underway for new backstage artist spaces and the restoration of the Main Street façade, which the NYSCA grant funding will go towards specifically. Future phases of the project will introduce expanded theatre lobbies, additional entry points, new concession areas and additional restroom facilities. The plan also includes the restoration of several historic spaces within the building, which will be repurposed to accommodate a variety of performance opportunities.
NYSCA Executive Director Erika Mallin said, “These transformative projects improve communities, drive tourism and foster innovation in the field. Thanks to the Governor and the Legislature’s dedication to arts and culture, we are building a thriving future for our world-renowned creative sector. Congratulations to RBTL, NYSCA is a proud supporter of your contributions to New York’s arts and culture.”
RBTL’s goal is to complete PROJECT RESTOURATION by 2030, the building’s 100th anniversary.
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About the New York State Council on the Arts
The mission of the New York State Council on the Arts is to foster and advance the full breadth of New York State’s arts, culture, and creativity for all. To support the ongoing recovery of the arts across New York State, the Council on the Arts will award over $161 million in FY 2026, serving hundreds of arts organizations and artists across all 10 state regions. The Council on the Arts further advances New York’s creative culture by convening leaders in the field and providing organizational and professional development opportunities and informational resources. Created by Governor Nelson Rockefeller in 1960 and continued with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, the Council is an agency that is part of the Executive Branch. For more information on NYSCA, please visit www.arts.ny.gov, and follow NYSCA’s Facebook page, on X @NYSCArts and Instagram @NYSCouncilontheArts.
