The Coppell Arts Center makes its official debut this month

Never underestimate the power of the arts – or of a community and its leaders who come together to support them. Ten years after the Town of Coppell converted an unused 7,500 square foot fire hall to the Coppell Arts Center in 1999, townspeople expressed a desire for a modern facility that could house all arts organizations. de Coppell under one roof, as well as bringing traveling entertainment and cultural events.

During the development of the Coppell Vision 2030 plan in 2009, the idea of ​​what would become a new fully constructed Coppell Arts Center was pitched, with an opening slated for May 2020. Unfortunately, this date has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but there was a silver lining.

“COVID-19 gave us more time to focus on completing construction, moving into the building, and opening as slowly as we needed to,” says Alex Hargis, CEO of Coppell Arts Center.

Despite the delay in the official opening, the organizers wanted to offer at least one safe programming. So they gradually began to introduce a number of socially distanced outdoor events, ranging from drive-ins to yoga and art classes. In October 2020, the doors of the Arts Center opened to the public for early voting, tours and exhibits by reservation, and in February, a few socially distanced and live-streamed concerts and exhibits began to be offered.

Highlights of the state-of-the-art 30,000 square foot resort include The Grove, an outdoor plaza designed for community gatherings and celebrations; the Mr. Cooper Group Lobby Gallery, a common dual-use space and art gallery; the reception hall, which can accommodate everything from banquets to corporate meetings; the Wilson Theater, a black box space designed to easily accommodate plays, oral performances and everything in between; and the Main Hall, an acoustically pristine performance space with just 440 seats.

“It’s beautiful, it’s intimate, and there really isn’t a bad seat in the house,” Jessica Carpenter, Coppell’s director of parks and recreation, said of the main lobby.

Coppell’s resident arts groups will also make their presence known. The Coppell Theater, Coppell Community Chorale, Coppell Community Orchestra, Ballet Ensemble of Texas, and Coppell Arts Council have scheduled events through 2022, using every inch of the magnificent facility as often as possible.

“We are delighted to welcome these arts groups into the facility and give them a home away from home,” said Carpenter. “We hope the new facility will expand the reach of each of the five groups and that more people can experience what they have to offer. “

Above all, this delayed inauguration weekend opens a whole new chapter for the Coppell Arts Center, while benefiting the city as a whole.

“For the residents of Coppell, the opening of the Arts Center is the culmination of a community’s hard work, vision and financial investment coming to fruition,” said Hargis. “We believe the Arts Center will increase the quality of life for residents and stimulate economic growth in Coppell. Hargis adds that the Center offers North Texans a premier entertainment option without having to travel to a major downtown area like Dallas or Fort Worth.

“It really goes to the heart of what we’re trying to accomplish,” Carpenter says. “To provide a space where all are welcome and where love and appreciation of the arts can flourish. “

See the entire ARTing Around D-FW section.