Flagler begins raising funds for auditorium

Flagler College spokesman Brian Thompson informed local Historic City News reporters that the school has launched a fundraising effort called “Setting the Stage” to raise money for one of St. Augustine’s cornerstone event venues.

Setting the Stage aims to raise funds for a two-phase renovation of the Auditorium, which opened its doors in 1991 and has seen 20 years of continuous use by the college and the St. Augustine community.

This is the first major renovation of the auditorium since its opening.

“The Flagler College Auditorium is one of the most important and widely used facilities in St. Augustine,” said Flagler College President William T. Abare, Jr. “Since its opening in 1991, the auditorium has played host to hundreds of events and thousands of patrons.”

The first phase of renovations is planned for the summer of 2012. Interior upgrades to seating, carpet and décor will be part of this phase. Improvements will also be made to technical components like sound and lighting. The estimated cost of first-phase renovations is $1 million.

“The auditorium is used by community organizations for concerts, music festivals, film festivals, recitals, other forms of entertainment, and public and governmental meetings,” Abare said. “The educational and cultural programs offered in the auditorium have enriched the lives of our residents and have made our community a better place in which to live and work.”

Community groups including The EMMA Concert Association, The St. Augustine Community Ballet, The St. Johns County Cultural Council, The Gamble Rogers Folk Festival and The Tourist Development Council have used the auditorium for the past 20 years.

In addition, through Flagler College programs such as Writers-in-Residence and the Forum on Government and Public Policy, the auditorium has hosted community presentations by the likes of Pat Conroy, Dennis Lehane, Robert Novak, David Broder and Andrew Young.

A second phase will commence after funds are raised, estimated at $1.2 million, and will consist of a structural addition to the facility. The addition will feature more classroom space, meeting rooms and offices for faculty and staff.

Renovations funded by Setting the Stage will ensure the venue’s continued availability for upcoming keystone events including the 500th Anniversary of Juan Ponce de Leon’s landing, the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act and the 450th Anniversary of the founding of St. Augustine.

For more information about the fundraising campaign, please contact F. Mark Whittaker, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, at (904) 819-6437

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News contributed photograph by Scott Smith