Columbia, S.C. — Virginia Wingard Memorial United Methodist Church is expanding its mission by transforming into a hub for performing arts. The newly established Broad River Arts Center will debut on September 5 with the musical revue “Showtune,” a tribute to Broadway composer Jerry Herman.
Located at 1500 Broad River Road, the arts center marks the first performing arts venue in the St. Andrews area and the newest in the Columbia region. The center aims to present four plays through next spring, along with a series of concerts featuring diverse musical styles. All events will be open to the public, with plans to expand to more events and classes in the future.
The arts center is housed in the church’s 70-year-old activities center, which was the original church building. It now features state-of-the-art lighting, a portable stage, and other improvements funded by over $330,000 in donations from 126 supporters, including some non-church members, and the Kendall Foundation.
“This project encouraged our congregation to go beyond our normal routines, to get out of our comfort zones, to be creative, and do something special,” said Donna Wilson, a veteran theatre educator and president of the seven-member board overseeing the arts center.
The center’s focus on performing arts was chosen because theater, music, dance, visual art, and poetry are seen as powerful and defining parts of society, Wilson explained. Church leaders believe the arts center will contribute to community efforts to revitalize the Broad River Road corridor.
“As the St. Andrews area transforms into a family living destination, the church can play a vital part in the transformation,” said church council president Barry Walker.
The Broad River Arts Center aims to “encourage learning, self-expression, and collaboration” as part of the revitalization effort, Wilson added. The use of a versatile multi-purpose facility for theater and arts performances aligns with practices in other communities across the nation and in Europe.
For more information, visit www.broadriverartscenter.org.
