 | |
  Harold Washington Cultural Center Location in South Side of Chicago | |
| Address | 4701 S. Martin Luther King Drive Chicago, Illinois 60615  United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°48′33.4″N 87°36′58.02″W / 41.809278°N 87.6161167°W |
| Capacity | 1,000 |
| Current use | Performing arts/business center |
| Opened | August 2004 |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Website | |
| www | |
Harold Washington Cultural Center is a performance facility located in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago's South Side. It was named after Chicago's first African-American Mayor Harold Washington and opened in August 2004, ten years after initial groundbreaking.[1][2] In addition to the 1,000-seat Commonwealth Edison (Com-Ed) Theatre, the center offers a Digital Media Resource Center.[3] Former Chicago City Council Alderman Dorothy Tillman and singer Lou Rawls take credit for championing the center, which cost $19.5 million.[2] It was originally to be named the Lou Rawls Cultural Center, but Alderman Tillman changed the name without telling Rawls.[2] Although it is considered part of the Bronzeville neighborhood it is not part of the Chicago Landmark Black Metropolis-Bronzeville District that is in the Douglas community area.
The limestone building, which is located on the same site as a former historic black theatre, the Regal[4] has become the subject of controversy stemming from nepotism. After a construction phase marked by delays and cost overruns, it has had a financially disappointing start and has been underutilized by many standards.[5] These disappointments were chronicled in an award winning investigative report.
The center suffered from under use leading to financial management difficulties. After it defaulted on some loans, the Chicago City Council voted in November 2010 to have the City Colleges of Chicago take over the Center and use it for a consolidated Performing Arts program.
- ^ "Cultural center under scrutiny". Hyde Park Herald. Archived from the original on June 12, 2007. Retrieved June 6, 2007.
- ^ a b c Meyer, Erin; Kalari Girtley. "Cultural center lost twice as much as it grossed its first year". Hyde Park Herald. Archived from the original on June 12, 2007. Retrieved June 6, 2007.
- ^ "Home page". Harold Washington Cultural Center. Archived from the original on June 12, 2007. Retrieved June 6, 2007.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Ebonywas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Manor, Robert (February 12, 2007). "EDITORIAL: For the Chicago City Council". Knight Ridder Tribune Business News. ProQuest 462753023 – via ProQuest-CSA LLC.
© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search