From TOLEDO ALLIANCE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
The Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) anticipates the Phase 1 opening of the Toledo Center for Live Arts, a dynamic new hub for arts education and collaboration on Heatherdowns Boulevard, adjacent to the Stranahan Theater.
This moment marks the beginning of a new chapter for TAPA and its commitment to enriching the cultural fabric of the region.
“For more than 80 years, the Toledo Symphony, Toledo Ballet, and Toledo Jazz Orchestra have inspired audiences and students alike,” said Zak Vassar, President and CEO of TAPA. “We now honor that legacy by creating a home where students, performers, and our entire community can unite in the transformative power of live art.”
The 56,000-square-foot facility, a redevelopment of the historic Masonic Temple, will serve as the headquarters for TAPA’s administrative and educational programs. The Center consolidates programs previously spread across three campuses, bringing more than 650 students of the Toledo Symphony School of Music, Toledo Symphony Youth Orchestras, and Toledo Ballet together under one roof.
This first phase anticipates several milestones:
• TAPA administrative teams move into the new facility
• Toledo Symphony School of Music begins classes at the Center
• Toledo Ballet students begin classes at the Center
• “Carnival of the Animals” performance as part of the Buckeye Broadband & The Blade Chamber Series
The Toledo Center for Live Arts will feature additional spaces for small and medium-sized performances, fostering a variety of artistic disciplines. TAPA’s mainstage performances will continue at the Peristyle Theater, Valentine Theatre, and Stranahan Theater.
The Center’s name represents a unique vision: a facility dedicated to “live art,” a concept that emphasizes the vibrancy, immediacy, and emotional resonance of in person performances.
The Center for Live Arts was named after extensive community research and input, designed to position the building as a beacon for creativity and connection.
“Our goal is to create a lasting, dynamic space for Toledo’s artists, audiences, and music and dance students” said Marna Ramnath, TAPA Board Chair. “This facility nurtures collaboration, innovation, and the development of the next generation of performers. I’m certain the Toledo Center for Live Arts will bring many exciting performances to life, some of which we can’t even dream of today.”
A Revitalized Past Attorney Richard Karcher, TAPA Board Vice Chair, led the effort to select the location for this project. “It was clear that our different constituencies had many items on their wish lists for a combined facility,” he says. “We evaluated more than a dozen properties, including new construction, former retail spaces, and historic reuse. And locations that were rural, suburban, and urban. When we were introduced to the Masonic Temple, largely empty since the 2000s, it seemed that our answer was hiding right in plain sight. It was unusually ideal for our needs.”
TAPA turned to local developer, David Ball, to make the 1968 Masonic Temple structure shine again. Ball is responsible for revitalizing many iconic buildings in Toledo, including the Ohio Building, Gardner Building, Woolworth Building, Osterman Building, and Pythian Castle. Mr. Ball was convinced that TAPA could bring the forgotten structure back to life.
“When you look at this building’s characteristics,” Ball says, “you just can’t imagine a better place for TAPA to be. It’s got big rooms that are ideal for dance classes and symphony rehearsals. We added windows and a significant amount of natural light to the second story. You just can’t build this kind of structure today, everything here is stone, concrete, and marble. This is going to be an absolute palace for the performing arts!”
TAPA acquired the building in November 2023. The total cost of the project is estimated at $8 million.
A Vision for the Future
This is the first step in TAPA’s larger plan for the Center. Additional phases of the facility will come online in the coming months, including a student lounge, a large recording studio, and a flexible performance space for up to 400 attendees.
A Grand Opening is being planned for Summer 2025, celebrating the full realization of this extraordinary space. The Toledo Symphony Youth Orchestras will begin residency at the Center in Fall 2025.
Through its Arts in Motion campaign, TAPA continues to rally support for this vision, enabling future growth and enhanced community engagement. “We send our thanks to the countless supporters who share our vision for what this building will become,” said Brett Loney, TAPA’s Vice President of Development. “This includes individual donors, foundations, and corporations who have helped us raise more than $3.4M toward this project. We share their enthusiasm and can’t wait to introduce this building to our community.”
