The Emporia Arts Council is officially at work to continue the Granada Theatre as a major entertainment venue.
The Arts Council began absorbing the Granada into its operations in early November after the Granada Theatre Alliance dissolved, meaning all staff were let go. Arts Council Director Dawn Young says the Council officially closed on the theater at the end of last year, so there have been about 15 working days so far this month to start all the work that the public will see and the work it won’t — including licensure, notably for liquor sales, as well as changing all the bills and other correspondence from the Granada to the Arts Council. Big discussion points now: how many events to schedule and how to generate income.
The theater was built in 1929 and reopened in 2008 after extensive renovations, but it has only been profitable in 2020, when it received a number of COVID-19-related grants despite being closed to the public.
When the Granada Theatre Alliance reached out for a partner, Arts Council Board Vice President Jill Burton says both boards shared a general vision for the theater.
There is a lot ahead for the Arts Council when it comes to the Granada, including the event schedule — which includes the Feb. 15 performance of Invincible: A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson, as well as Tartan Terrors on March 1, the Barricade Boys West End Party on March 22 and Good Co on April 18.
There are other operational aspects to determine as well. The Arts Council will start searching soon for an event coordinator and an engineering technician, among other positions. It also has several deferred maintenance projects to fund, including work on the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, stage, sound system and lighting system. A fundraising plan for the deferred maintenance projects and other operational aspects is pending.
