The Arts are Alive in Winston-Salem
Two local performing arts facilities in Winston-Salem are undergoing exciting renovations.
Two performing arts facilities at local universities — the University of North Carolina School of the Arts Stevens Center and Winston-Salem State University’s K.R. Williams Auditorium — are undergoing substantial renovations in the Winston-Salem area.
Stevens Center
The Stevens Center building originally was a 1929 silent movie theater. Today, it is undergoing a multiphase renovation that will modernize experiences for students and patrons, with efforts made to retain the building’s character.
“It has had a tremendous impact — locally as an economic catalyst for downtown development, regionally as a cultural anchor since the 1930s, and nationally as the launching pad for the careers of countless actors, dancers, technicians, musicians, and others on stage and behind the scenes,” says Katherine Johnson, UNCSA director, media relations and communications.
K.R. Williams Auditorium
Winston-Salem State University is planning a renovation to the K.R. Williams Auditorium, which was built in 1975 and has housed a variety of performances over the last 47 years. Renovations of the two-story, 37,660-square-foot auditorium will consist of a 43,000-square-foot expansion and include the renovation of architectural and structural elements, including seating, stage suspension/rigging and lighting, plus electrical, plumbing, landscaping upgrades and more. The university is taking bids for the project, which is scheduled to be completed by April 2025.
“The upcoming renovation will allow us to continue our rich history in the arts by providing an adaptable performance space that will foster deeper connections in our communities,” says Haley N. Gingles, chief marketing & communications officer at Winston-Salem State University.
If you’d like to learn more about the Winston-Salem, NC, area, check out the latest edition of Livability: Greater Winston-Salem.
