Room to Perform and Inviting New Arts Spaces

Room to Perform

The AC Delco Building sits immediately behind the Sawtooth building at the corner of Spruce and Second Streets. The north side of the building is a former garage, and the south side of the building is a two-story structure. Purchased by The Arts Council, the building will be renovated and turned into a 300-seat Black-Box Theatre with collapsible/movable seating.

The Theatre will be unique to Winston-Salem and will feature a variety of stage and seating setups for numerous types of dance, live theatre, and film productions. This type of space is in great demand, with nearly a dozen groups expressing interest in using the space.

The Black-Box Theatre will have a lobby and box office located off the new entryway, adjacent to the visitor drop-off on Spruce Street.

Theatre support spaces, including dressing rooms and green rooms, as well as storage spaces for props, tables, and chairs, will be adjacent to the Theatre space.

State-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment, along with portable risers and seats, will make this a unique space in the heart of downtown that can be used by many groups with varied performance needs.

Inviting New Arts Spaces

Redesign and Relocation of the RJR Gallery – The current RJR Gallery is accessed via a multi-level staircase in the central portion of the Sawtooth building, just off the lobby. The new Master Plan relocates the Gallery to the Spruce Street side of the building, where the pottery rooms and storage areas now exist. The new gallery will be more "visitor friendly", featuring twelve-foot ceilings and enhanced lighting to accentuate artistic works on display.

Cafe – The Arts Council is considering retrofitting and reworking the interior space and outdoor terrace on the main entrance level for future use as a cafe.

Exterior Visual Elements – A visual element will be added to the Marshall Street side of the building to better promote upcoming events.

New Multi-Purpose Performance Forum – The imposing staircase that connects multiple levels in the center of the building will be removed, thereby opening up that area on the Marshall Street side of the building for use as multi-purpose program space. This two-story, naturally lit area will be available for many uses, including live musical performances, special events, or conferences.

May Mountcastle Forum – This area is currently used by more than 200 community groups per year. This space will be updated and renovated for public use and special events.