In the year 2000, the Blair Center for the Arts Foundation was formed and began the process of renovating the theater. Over the next eight years, lots of work was done, and through the help and support of our local community, the theater opened again to the public for the first time in over 12 years. Like many organizations around the country, COVID-19 has had a negative effect on our mission. However, we’re still moving forward with trying to build a facility to provide quality arts and entertainment and to be a community gathering place for the residents of Belleville, Republic County, and the greater North Central Kansas Region. Below, you can see a list of things we are looking to do and an estimated cost for each item. If you can help in any way, please feel free to contact us and let us know.

Over the past few years, we have been able to meet with some great companies and form some good partnerships. Below are just a few of the items that we have identified needing to purchase to help achieve our goal of renovating the Blair into a working arts center. While some of these costs may seem very high, please remember that the theater hasn’t been a theater in a very long time and previous occupants removed all of the theater equipment. So we, in essence, stating from the beginning.

1. • Architectural and Structural Analysis and Design
   • Theater Rigging System
   • Theater Soft Goods Package
   • Engineered Theater Staging
   • Building Electrical Upgrade
   • Theater Lighting System
   • Theater Sound System
     • This equipment is different than what is used for the cinema sound system.
   • Theater Video System
     • This equipment is different than what is used for the cinema projection system.

With your help, by upgrading the facilities here at the Blair, we’ll be able to host more live events and increase the entertainment we can offer. This will result in an increase in the number of visitors that we can help bring to the area who will possibly shop at nearby retailers before or after a play, eat dinner at nearby restaurants before an evening dance recital, or get a room for the night and avoid driving home to Seneca, Phillipsburg, Geneva, or Fairbury after a concert or a late-night comedy show.

You can donate directly to our capital campaign at https://givebutter.com/BlairRenovations

 

The Blair is currently accepting bids from architectural and engineering firms for our renovation project. We are looking for companies interested in Initial Condition Assessment all the way through to completion. If your company would like to submit a bid on this project, please email a proposal to [email protected].

 

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Pop-up Cinema Needs List

Below is a table of items with an approximate dollar amount we still need to finish the Pop-up Cinema. Due to supply chain issues and inflation, this list may not be accurate.