Downtown Development Continues With Groundbreaking Of Smith Center For The Performing Arts

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts is a public-private partnership that will become the centerpiece of cultural life in Las Vegas. Designed to address the cultural needs of the community, The Smith Center will offer a blend of performances by local arts groups as well as first-run touring attractions. The 4.75-acre cultural complex will feature music, theater, and dance companies who celebrate cultures from all over the world. 
Plans for the world-class performing arts center include a 2,050 seat multipurpose main hall and an education building that will house a 300-seat cabaret theater facing onto Symphony Park; and a 200-seat flexible studio theater for rehearsals, children’s theater and community events. Groundbreaking for The Smith Center is planned for spring 2009 with a projected opening in early 2012. 

The Las Vegas City Council gave unanimous approval today to several agenda items that clear the way for construction to begin on The Smith Center for the Performing Arts.

The city of Las Vegas, through its non-profit corporation City Parkway V, is providing the land for the project. In addition, the Redevelopment Agency (RDA) is contributing $76.78 million for the facility, which includes $68.78 in RDA bonds. In addition, the city, Clark County and state legislature collaborated on a car rental fee that resulted in a bond of $105 million. The city used its General Obligation bond backing to maximize the funding generated by the rental car tax revenue. A portion of the RDA funds will be repaid once rental car tax proceeds are sufficient to do so.

For more information about The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, please visit http://www.thesmithcenter.com  .