Motion to restore $176K in Ensemble funding passes

A motion to restore City funding for the Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati's (ETC) expansion has been adopted by Cincinnati City Council.

The more than $176,000 in funding is the remainder of money originally granted in March 2004 as part of a $50,000 capital arts grant and a $200,000 challenge grant that was contingent on ETC's expansion of their space at 1127 Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine.

The City took back that funding in June after it had not been spent.

The motion has been passed to the Division of Budget and Evaluation of the Office of the City Manager, and a report is due before council's Finance Committee by October 13.

Earlier this year, ETC embarked on a $6.5 million capital campaign to finance the renovations of its current space and a newly-acquired 15,000-square-foot space at 1117 Vine Street.

Improvements will include a renovated performance space and seating, an outside courtyard, an on-site scene shop, new office space, a renovated box office and lobby space, and private meeting rooms.

GBBN Architects has been hired to do the renovation, which is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2010.

Large-scale fundraising will begin this fall.

ETC last expanded in 1993, when it expanded from 134 to 202 seats.

Image credit: ETC and GBBN Architects

Previous reading on BC:
Cincinnati passes motion to restore Ensemble funding (8/12/08)