Academy scores federal funding boost

Casey Gillis / Lynchburg News & Advance
Published: January 11, 2008

The Academy of Fine Arts announced Friday that it will receive $250,000 in federal money, part of the consolidated appropriations act signed by President Bush in December.

Ron Kastner, director of development at the Academy, said Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-6th District, had a hand in securing the money. Goodlatte has visited the historic theater several times, most recently for a fundraiser in September.

"He's a good friend to the Academy," Kastner said. "We're very thankful to the congressman for his support, as well as our senators, who nursed (the bill) on the Senate floor."

The money will go toward the ongoing restoration of the historic Academy of Music Theatre, a project that includes the construction of a 110-foot-tall stage house and fly tower, both of which were destroyed in a 1993 windstorm.

"We're really excited," Kastner said. "We've been doing a lot of things in the historic building, but you can't see them. The nice thing with the fly tower is that nobody will be able to miss what we're doing. It will be so big and bold and beautiful."

He said they hope to start construction on the stage house and fly tower in April.

The price tag on this phase of the project is $18 million, approximately $5 million of which will come from available tax credits. That leaves the campaign responsible for the remaining $12.5 million.

Kastner said they've raised a little over $2 million since March 2007.

The 900-seat theater was built in 1905. It served as a performance venue for everything from opera to vaudeville and was later converted into a movie theater before closing in the 1950s.

"The Academy helps provide cultural opportunities for thousands and is a key component of Lynchburg's downtown revitalization," Goodlatte said in a statement. "Restoration of the theatre will add a significant economic impact to the city."