Ruth Eckerd Hall is a 73,000-square-foot (6,800 m2) performing arts venue, located in Clearwater, Florida, in the Tampa Bay area and is part of the Richard B. Baumgardner Center for the Performing Arts.
The concert hall is named after Ruth Eckerd, the wife of businessman Jack Eckerd, and is a regular performance venue for the Florida Orchestra.
Its 2,180-seat auditorium features continental seating, with no center aisle.
In 1977, the Kapok Tree Corporation donated 38 acres (150,000 m2) to the City of Clearwater with the stipulation that a performing arts center be built on the property. The bequest mandated that the construction begin within two years, and in 1979 a ground breaking ceremony was held. At its inception, a group of dedicated volunteers in the community stepped forward to organize the effort and obtain the necessary resources for its completion. Among these leaders, Jack and Ruth Eckerd were instrumental in the project's success. The main auditorium is named in Mrs. Eckerd's honor. The center's main name recognizes Richard B. Baumgardner, the founder of the Kapok Tree Corporation. The facility is a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired building with Taliesin Associated Architects, led by William Wesley Peters doing the design work.[1] Construction cost $14.5 million with $9 million donated by the private sector and the remaining $5.5 million provided in the form of a mortgage. The Hall was dedicated and opened on October 15, 1983.
Created to own, manage and maintain the land and the facility, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Inc. is a non-profit presenting organization, while the Ruth Eckerd Hall Foundation, Inc. obtains funding for debt retirement and the ongoing operation of the center.
Each year, over 350,000 adult and young audience members visit Ruth Eckerd Hall for performances ranging from world-renowned classical artists and dance companies to Broadway musicals and pop stars. Through its many arts education programs, the education department of Ruth Eckerd Hall serves nearly 100,000 students and adults annually.
The commitment of the Board of Directors of both organizations and the management staff is to continue to present the finest performing arts and provide educational opportunities in the performing arts to all segments of the community.
ruth, eckerd, hall, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, februar. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Ruth Eckerd Hall news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message 27 58 34 N 82 42 17 W 27 976033 N 82 704853 W 27 976033 82 704853 Ruth Eckerd HallInterior of venue c 2006 Address1111 McMullen Booth RdClearwater FL 33759 3219LocationDowntown ClearwaterOwnerRuth Eckerd Hall Inc TypePerforming arts centerCapacity2 180ConstructionOpenedOctober 16 1983 1983 10 16 ArchitectTaliesin Associated ArchitectsWebsitewww wbr rutheckerdhall wbr comRuth Eckerd Hall is a 73 000 square foot 6 800 m2 performing arts venue located in Clearwater Florida in the Tampa Bay area and is part of the Richard B Baumgardner Center for the Performing Arts The concert hall is named after Ruth Eckerd the wife of businessman Jack Eckerd and is a regular performance venue for the Florida Orchestra Its 2 180 seat auditorium features continental seating with no center aisle The outside of the venue April 2023Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 External links 4 ReferencesHistory editIn 1977 the Kapok Tree Corporation donated 38 acres 150 000 m2 to the City of Clearwater with the stipulation that a performing arts center be built on the property The bequest mandated that the construction begin within two years and in 1979 a ground breaking ceremony was held At its inception a group of dedicated volunteers in the community stepped forward to organize the effort and obtain the necessary resources for its completion Among these leaders Jack and Ruth Eckerd were instrumental in the project s success The main auditorium is named in Mrs Eckerd s honor The center s main name recognizes Richard B Baumgardner the founder of the Kapok Tree Corporation The facility is a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired building with Taliesin Associated Architects led by William Wesley Peters doing the design work 1 Construction cost 14 5 million with 9 million donated by the private sector and the remaining 5 5 million provided in the form of a mortgage The Hall was dedicated and opened on October 15 1983 Created to own manage and maintain the land and the facility Ruth Eckerd Hall Inc is a non profit presenting organization while the Ruth Eckerd Hall Foundation Inc obtains funding for debt retirement and the ongoing operation of the center Each year over 350 000 adult and young audience members visit Ruth Eckerd Hall for performances ranging from world renowned classical artists and dance companies to Broadway musicals and pop stars Through its many arts education programs the education department of Ruth Eckerd Hall serves nearly 100 000 students and adults annually The commitment of the Board of Directors of both organizations and the management staff is to continue to present the finest performing arts and provide educational opportunities in the performing arts to all segments of the community See also editJack EckerdExternal links editOfficial websiteReferences edit Taliesin West Built in Arizona Desert Lakeland Ledger April 23 1988 nbsp This article about a building or structure in Florida is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ruth Eckerd Hall amp oldid 1153196310, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
