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Fort Hill Performing Arts Center coming to Canandaigua next year

Sands Constellation Theatre at Fort Hill Performing Arts Center

A place for community arts will be reopening next year in the Finger Lakes.

The space that will be the Sands Constellation Theater at Fort Hill Performing Arts Center has been dormant for years, but will be hosting community arts events early next year.

Holger Stave, Executive Director of the center, says the process began when the Finger Lakes Symphony Orchestra was looking for a permanent home.

"One of its members who lives right down Fort Hill Avenue and walking his dog, he realized gee, there used to be an old theater in this building. What ever happened to it?" Stave explained.

He says a mid-size community performing arts center is something that hasn’t existed in the region for some time.

"Any place where regular community groups, even schools can reach out and do graduations, do plays, play their music and so forth," Stave said.

Credit Laurie Kroon

He says, right now, schools are the only option in the area for these types of events, and CMAC is too big. The venue was built in 1928 will have seating for 419 people. 

With renovations already under way, Stave says they hoping to open bookings for shows starting in January 2020.