Ravaged by June flooding, Oklahoma City's Stage Center will close for at least a year as the Arts Council of Oklahoma City figures out a long-term plan for moving forward.
The multi-use arts complex at 400 W. Sheridan was decimated by flooding on June 14, a torrential "500-year rainfall event" that brought 9 inches of rain in hours and left many homes and businesses underwater. Six community arts organizations were displaced, and most suffered substantial losses of office and stage equipment.
Stage Center will be vacant for at least a year, possibly two or three, said Peter Dolese, executive director of the Oklahoma City Arts Council, as the organization and nonprofit arts tenants figure out their next move.
"The long-term prognosis for Stage Center is undetermined as we continue discussions with the insurance company regarding damage, repair and/or replacement estimates," the board of directors said in a prepared statement.
For more on Stage Center's closing, the options being weighed by the Arts Council and the building's tenants, look for more coverage in the Aug. 18 Oklahoma Gazette.
photo Stage center damage. Photo/Peter Dolese
