Time for a Midsummer Night’s Screening or Still Waiting for Godot? (via Wikipedia)

Grandees in Western Massachusetts have long seen the arts as key to bolstering the region’s economy. Prominent arts institutions have blossomed in the Berkshires for years. Yet, even before the shroud of the coronavirus fell on the Valley, the arts along I-91 had faced trying times. Institutions like performing arts venues have emerged from the pandemic in varying degrees of health.

One endeavor, the restoration of the Victory Theater in Holyoke, seemingly scored big. It received a $2 million American Rescue Plan Act grant from the city. When Holyoke had to claw back the grant this month, it dealt a blow to efforts to build out downtown as an arts hub. Still that project’s supporters remain hopeful. That attitude mirrors regional determination to revive the local arts sector, including live entertainment, from Springfield to Northampton and beyond.

The arts are a major component of the commonwealth’s economy. The Massachusetts Cultural Council reported that in 2022 the sector contributed $28.6 billion to the state economy and supported 133,773 jobs. That year, according to the Springfield Cultural Partnership, that city’s nonprofit arts sector supported 1,483 jobs. It also generated $15.3 million in tax revenue on all levels of government.

The Valley has several open and thriving arts institutions, including the performing arts. The Springfield Symphony Orchestra (SSO) and the Springfield Public Forum remain anchor tenants of Symphony Hall. Across the river, the Majestic Theater continues to put on live theater.

Yet municipal leaders across the 413 have pinned higher hopes for their downtowns on both restoration projects and better use of underutilized venues.

Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia and Community Development Director Alicia Zoeller revealed that the city had clawed back the Victory Theater funds in a November 8 interview with Natalia Muñoz on Holyoke Media.

Garcia still wants to smile on the Victory Theater, just not with ARPA funds. (WMP&I)

“I still continue to support it and we’re actually talking about other ways of how we can support them but I think it is important for the public, to clarify to them, what happened to that two million and why it’s being redirected,” Garcia said.

The Victory Theater is not the only performing arts venue to face setbacks in recent years.

While the Paramount Theater in Springfield has new owners—and new hopes—its last redevelopment plan fell apart due COVID-19 and its prior owners troubles. In Northampton, city and community leaders struggled for years to wrest control of performing arts venues from a neglectful owner.

In Holyoke officials said their decision came down to federal rules that require construction on a faster timeline than the Victory’s operator, the Massachusetts International Festival of Art (MIFA), could meet.

Zoeller said the ARPA rules created an unrealistic time crunch for the Victory Theater. In essence, she explained, the project had to be committed in the federal system by the end of this year.

“Part of that commitment, when we execute contracts with projects—any project—they have to demonstrate that the project is fully funded other than the Federal investment that’s being made and that the project is going to go within the timelines of the federal program requirements,” Zoeller told Holyoke Media.

“Unfortunately,” she continued, “MIFA was not able to meet those timelines where we could be under contract with them by the end of this year and have the project fully completed and open by June 2026.”

Officials at MIFA were understanding. However, they expressed confidence about the Victory Theater’s future and assured that construction would begin soon.

Don Sanders, the Executive Artistic Director for MIFA/Victory Theater, said the city had kept MIFA abreast of the situation.

“I want to thank and second Josh and Alicia’s explanation about rescinding the ARPA funds,” he said in a statement to WMP&I “MIFA has always been carefully included in the process as this necessary decision has unfolded.”

What MIFA hopes Victory will look like. (via Facebook/MIFA & Victory Theater)

Sanders agreed it was better for MIFA’s city partners to help the Victory Theater without the burden ARPA’s deadlines.

The Victory Theater’s project manager, Susan Palmer, welcomed Garcia’s commitment to the theater and his decision to reallocate the funds, rather than lose them. She called the move “a win” for the Victory and the city.

“We are grateful for Mayor Garcia’s continued support for the project and for his commitment of alternate funding sources to replace and possibly increase the amount of funding that would have come in the form of ARPA funding,” Palmer said.

The lack of hurt feelings is certainly reassuring. However, finding a substitute $2 million—or more as the parties hope—will be a challenge for the city. Garcia faces reelection next year and municipalities face leaner times as budgets return to normal post-pandemic.

Indeed, turning the stage lights back on at venues that had operated more recently than the Victory—the venue opened in 1920 and closed in 1979—has been a challenge up and down the Valley.

The Paramount Theater is not the only stage drama in Springfield. City Stage closed around the opening of MGM Springfield in 2018. The casino took over management of Symphony Hall around that time. It had been previously run by an entity that also managed City Stage. However, earlier this year, Robert Bolduc—of Pride Convenience Store fame—showed off renovation plans to the press.

Karen Finn, Executive Director of the Springfield Cultural Partnership, cited City Stage’s revival as evidence of the performing arts’ recovery.

In addition to the performing arts, City Stage played host to the political arts like Senator Warren’s 2017 town hall and a gubernatorial debate in 2014.  (WMP&I)

“This dedicated space could be a major boost for the performing arts, creating an exciting opportunity to bring more performance arts related educational programming, live shows and cultural events back to the heart of Springfield,” she said.

Finn pointed to other positive signs including the endurance of the SSO, Focus Springfield’s coverage of more in-person public events, youth arts programs and the contributions of cultural stalwarts like the Springfield Library System and the Community Music School. Her own organization funded dozens of artists and hosted eight events and collaborated on 15 others.

Still, the pandemic’s impact on the arts runs deep. Finn referred to a SMU DataArts study that found drops in Massachusetts art institutions’ revenue from 2019 to 2022. Adjusted for inflation, operating revenue is down 12% and individual giving is down 13%. The study found that attendance was rising after the pandemic. However, as of its release, many audiences were smaller than in 2019. Not surprisingly, live music and film screenings remained lower than museum visits according to the report.

Finn remains hopeful and pointed to support from nonprofit entities like the BARR Foundation and local and state governments. She highlighted Governor Maura Healey’s support in particular.

“These organizations and reports promote the recognition that arts and culture are key to both economic recovery and community cohesion – arts investment drives not only financial growth but also social resilience,” she said.

Reopening arts venues in Northampton has been a tragicomic production all its own.

Many of Paradise City’s event spaces, including the Calvin Theater, Pearl Street Nightclub and the Iron Horse Music Hall had been in possession of real estate personality Eric Suher. Most either never or barely reopened as health rules lifted after the pandemic. These closures have put stress on a downtown economy that the pandemic battered.

Another complication was that many venues also held liquor licenses that Suher was responsible for. Waves of License Commission meetings and public pressure eventually led to the sales of some of Suher’s properties. However, only the Iron Horse, now run by a non-profit, has reopened. The state also approved changes to Northampton’s liquor license quota to mitigate the cancellation of pouring licenses Suher controlled. Some licenses nonetheless lapsed before transfer.

Silent Cal, for now. (via NEPM)

Suher had been negotiating the sale of the Calvin to The Bowery Presents, a New York-based operator of event spaces. It is also the East Coast partner of AEG Live, a music and sports presenter. However, since these negotiations first became public last year, the Calvin has lost its liquor license. City records show a company Suher controls still owns the theater.

City arts officials did not respond to a request for comment.

Downriver in Holyoke, the Victory Theater ARPA funds will instead move into housing and topping off downtown projects.

“In this case we chose to focus on housing related issues and also close some project gaps that some of our current project proponents that are doing development in are downtown,” Mayor Garcia said.

However, Garcia again emphasized that the move was not a verdict on the Victory Theater project itself. Indeed, he even noted that MIFA had pulled permits for some elements of the project.

Sanders, the executive artistic director for MIFA/Victory Theater, noted this, too. He acknowledged that 16 years had passed since the project began. However, in that time there had been milestones including restoration of murals, development plans and qualification for tax credits.

“Not to mention the boost and affirmation that MIFA and the Victory have brought to the city through its prestigious international and local events, broadcasts, and constant exposure of the city as a vital place in arts and education,” Sanders emailed. “And, Bravo! This year actual construction will begin!”