Bing Arts Center put up for sale; COVID pandemic forces closing of 71-year-old Springfield theater - masslive.com

The Bing Arts Center at 716 Sumner Avenue in Springfield has not held any events since March 2020. (Don Triger | Republican)

SPRINGFIELD-The non-profit organization behind

It said that there is no money, and the 71-year-old venue has been sold.

The building has a 10,000-square-foot theater, gallery and meeting place, and the asking price is

Bing Executive Director Brian F. Hale said: "Our whole purpose is to bring people together." "Now you can't bring people together."

There has been no activity since March, and the volunteers who took over Bing from the city (only paid $1 nearly 20 years ago) can no longer pay the bills and the small mortgage they lent to the property for renovation.

Hale said of the financial difficulties at the conference: "It really doesn't make any sense to talk about a sum of money."

If Bing has a donation of $20,000 or $30,000 tomorrow, it has the ability to move on. However, for COVID, the uncertainty lasts for how long, when theaters and art galleries can reopen, and how long the public is willing to participate in events," he said.

Haier added: "You are trying to attract people to the event. You are trying to build motivation. After one year, the idea of ​​starting again...it will take six months to start planning again."

Bing has never been able to continue to refurbish the cinema auditorium at the rear of the building, which is an estimated $1 million project.

"We have been open for 10 to 11 years," Hale said. "We never really achieved financial sustainability. We did build a nest egg. Now that it is gone, we have no choice."

He said that if there is money to do theater, it may be a bit painful.

Hale said: "If we could get the funds, it could have been as fun as in the valley," "You can only go so far without that much money."

But there are also good memories. Over the years, Bing has hosted five Grammy Award winners. At night, saxophone players jump on the table, and people push chairs aside to dance.

"It's worth doing," Hale said. "This is a great moment. We met a lot of great people."

Bing opened in 1950 as a movie theater and got its name from Bing Crosby, notorious for "White Christmas". Since March, the venue at 716 Sumner Avenue has never hosted any events.

Bing Art Center for sale

During the pandemic, performance venues were severely hit, and in order to curb the spread of COVID-19, most people were prohibited from gatherings.

Holyoke's popularity

It is caused by the prolonged coronavirus shutdown and can be sold.

Last November, Northampton’s Newsing Theatre withdrew from performances, which performed at Smith College instead of a separate performance venue.

Bing is owned by the non-profit organization "X" Main Street Corp., which purchased the building from Springfield in 2003.

. The city had taken over the property four years ago to avoid paying taxes.

Over the years, Bing has offered various courses, from basic photography to African drum music, as well as folk and rock performances, open microphone nights, gallery performances and

The real estate listing shows that the front of this converted 2,902 square foot building has a lobby and three separate rooms that can be used as offices. There is a kitchen and toilet.

The list says that the theater is in pristine condition, has not been updated, and currently has no electricity.

In 2003, the city government transferred the property to the "X" Street Company for only $1, and also imposed restrictions on the use of the property-no adult entertainment venues, no office buildings or car companies, and no houses-and also gave The city government explains how to change or renovate the building, or change its use.

Hale said that if there is money left, X'Main Street Corp. may continue once Bing is sold. After the pandemic is over, he wants to continue to sponsor events.

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