CCC PERFORMING ARTS WING GRAND OPENING SEPTEMBER 2024!

We are looking for Central School Memorabilia! Learn more about what we are looking for here:

Frequently Asked Questions | PRESS & CONTACT | Support

This exciting next step has been years in the making! The 9,000 sq ft Performing Arts Wing has been the CCC's diamond in the rough since the organization was founded in 2005 and the multi-stage redevelopment of the 44,000 square-foot building was put into motion and will include the 225 seat LaJoie Theatre, a dance and movement studio, newly renovated Tri Family Grand Lobby, and more! Yamhill County currently lacks a quality mid-sized, public use performance venue and this project fills this need by providing equitable access to high quality performing arts facilities for thousands while presenting an economic boon to the entire region.

Be Part of the History of the Performing Arts Wing!

This exciting next step in the development of the Chehalem Cultural Center has been years in the making - and it’s finally here! Construction has begun on the new Performing Arts Wing and we can’t wait to welcome you into this new community gathering space.

Sponsorship allows you to commemorate a friend or family member, an organization, special occassion, your business, or to leave your personal mark on our historic theatre.

Help us build the performing arts center that Yamhill County has been waiting for by making a tax deductible donation today. To learn more about naming and sponsorship opportunities, contact Info@ChehalemCulturalCenter.org or call 503-487-6883

Donate $2,500 to be recognized with a naming plate with the message, name, or logo of your choice that will be added on a seat in the LaJoie Theatre.

Donate $1,000 to be recognized on our Ceramic Plate Donor Wall made by local artist Benjamin Cahoon using Yamhill County clay, and crafted in the CCC Ceramics Studio. Each plate will feature hand-painted underglaze and names will be added in gold ceramic.

Phase 3 of the Historic Central School Renovation

CCC has a history of success with capital construction projects. Phase I renovations of the old Central School were completed for CCC’s grand opening in 2010, with building-wide seismic upgrades, multipurpose art studio classrooms, a state-of-the-art clay studio, visual art galleries, a recording studio with four music practice studios, meeting rooms, offices, and inviting outdoor spaces including our forecourt plaza. In 2014, Phase II began with the introduction of our elegant 5,200 square-foot Grand Ballroom. In 2019 we renovated an additional 3,000 square feet for a new Culinary Enrichment Center, private meeting room, and new public restrooms, all adjacent to the ballroom, thus completing renovation of the building's ground floor. Together, these facilities substantially increased our capacity to expand our education offerings, host large scale events, serve concessions, and produce venue rental income. The story of the Chehalem Cultural Center is one of steady and profound growth supported by an ongoing investment in community. The Phase III performing arts wing is the next step in our immediate and long-term strategic plan to bring a greater diversity and number of people into the Center; generate more earned income; and complete renovations of the historic landmark. With our successful track record as an arts and culture hub and our location at the heart of the Newberg Cultural District, CCC is perfectly poised to fill a regional need by creating a destination-worthy performing arts venue in Yamhill County.

This project fulfills our mission to inspire and enrich lives by connecting the community with the wealth of artists that our region has to offer. We believe consistent opportunities to engage with high-caliber artistic product drives fluency in and familiarity with art, giving our community a greater vocabulary with which to bridge cultural divides. Our growing performing arts offerings have been a particularly popular and galvanizing part of our heritage events and cultural programming; and this project has been designed with and for the community. We have gathered input from many local and regional artists including Gather Repetory Theatre, Penguin Productions, and Chehalem Valley Dance Academy and plan for this space to be a platform for them to present their work. Nearby Portland is rich with theatre and dance companies and music ensembles who are keen to bring their shows to Newberg and these facilities open opportunities to attract new regional touring companies to our area. These performances in the new theatre create artist-in-residence opportunities to teach and mentor local talent here in our new facilities. We believe that the new classes and performances this project affords will expand the positive impact on the thousands of established visitors to the center and reach thousands of new attendees.

This project fulfills our mission to inspire and enrich lives!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Chehalem Cultural Center (CCC) and what does it do?

   • The Chehalem Cultural Center celebrates the arts, community, education, and heritage. The Center is housed in a historic brick building that began its life in 1935 as Central School—a Depression era Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. The building is currently owned by our public partner, the Chehalem Park and Recreation District. Chehalem Cultural Center is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. As the largest provider of Arts Services in Yamhill county the CCC’s mission is to, “inspire and enrich lives by connecting community and culture” by offering classes, concerts, professional studios, rotating galleries, and community meeting space to over 80,000 guests annually.

2. What will be included in the CCC Performing Arts Wing?

   • The Performing Arts Wing will renovate 9,000 sq ft of existing, unused space in our historic home in downtown Newberg. These improvements will include a dance and movement studio, a newly designed grand lobby, restrooms, meeting spaces, and the 225 seat LaJoie Theatre.

3. Who will the CCC Performing Arts Wing serve?

   • The Performing Arts Wing will serve the cities of Newberg, Dundee, St. Paul, McMinnville, Sherwood, and many other surrounding cities and towns, including those in Yamhill County, Marion County, Washington County, and Multnomah County. Our community spans the arts and the geography of the Northwest.

4. What is the cost of the project?

   • The current estimated cost of the project is $5 million.

5. How does private fundraising contribute to the project?

   • Individual donors play an important role in the success of this project. To date the CCC has secured $3 million in private gifts and commitments toward the fruition of this next phase of construction.

6. What will the economic impact of the CCC Performing Arts Wing be on the surrounding area?

   • In June 2020, ECONorthwest completed a Market and Economic Impact Study for this project. Per their analysis, the $5 million project should support 31 construction jobs during the year and spending by construction businesses and worker households will, in-turn, contribute secondary impacts of 17 jobs and $2.1 million in spending elsewhere in Yamhill County. The economic impacts of theatre operations on Yamhill County in year five will total $888,718 and result in 9 full time jobs.

7. What is the timeline for the project?

   • The project is shovel-ready and construction is planned to begin in Fall 2023.

8. What are the long term operational costs and how will they be paid?

   • Typically, small non-profit theatres operate at roughly breakeven. CCC’s theatre should be able to reach breakeven by year three and exceed breakeven after, in large part due to considerable production leverage with other ongoing organizational activities. In year five, revenue is projected to exceed $500,000, expenses total $365,940 and unrestricted assets total $134,405. The theatre will have cost advantages many theatres do not enjoy. 

9. What kinds of performances, concerts, and public events will be presented in the LaJoie Theatre?

   • The Lajoie Theatre will present many of the same types of performances you have come to expect from the Chehalem Cultural Center including dance, theatre, and music. The CCC prioritizes cultural diversity and will schedule our performances to ensure a wide variety of representation on our stage.

10. How many people will the LaJoie Theatre seat?

    • While designs for the theatre have yet to be finalized there will be capacity for approximately 225 guests in a mixture of fixed and flexible seating.

11. Will local groups have access to the facilities?

    • Yes! The Performing Arts Wing is FOR this community. In addition to bringing in regional and national touring acts the CCC will prioritize space for local expressions of culture.

12. Where will the CCC Performing Arts Wing be located?

    • The Performing Arts Wing will be located on the second floor of the Chehalem Cultural Center’s historic home in the old Central School building at 415 E Sheridan, Newberg OR.

PRESS

Renovations to Cultural Center Continue Unabated

—Megan Stewart, Newberg Graphic | March 1, 2023

CCC Gets Monetary Boost for Next Projects
— Gary Allen, Newberg Graphic | May 26, 2021

Performing Arts Wing Next Step For Cultural Center
— Ryan Clark, Newberg Graphic | November 13, 2020

Chehalem Cultural Center Expansion Makes A-list
— David Bates, Oregon Arts Watch | November 3, 2020

11 Capital Construction Projects We Endorse for 2021-2023
— Cultural Advocacy Coalition | October 2020

CONTACT

Sean Andries, Executive Director
Chehalem Cultural Center
415 E. Sheridan Street, Newberg OR 97132
503-487-6883
director@chehalemculturalcenter.org