Project Updates
🚨Exciting News: Action at the Victory Theatre🚨
MIFA Victory Theatre Project Construction Team, architects Durkee, Brown, Viveiros & Werenfels (DBVW), and project construction team Barr & Barr have devised a strategy for the next steps in the Victory Theatre restoration and set forth a plan of action. Here is what has been completed so far:
Drone Photos by Odeh Engineers
Construction Team:
DBVW/ Durkee, Brown, Viveiros & Werenfels Architects
Rivet Roofing
Ryan LLC
Odhe Engineering
Newsletter April 26, 2024: https://conta.cc/3QlGE8z
Newsletter December 8, 2023: https://conta.cc/3Rz0DBv
Newsletter November 14, 2023: https://conta.cc/49M9dUS
Victory Theatre Mural Restoration Complete
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE RESTORATION IS COMPLETE
THE VICTORY THEATRE MURALS ARE IN HOLYOKE
HOLYOKE, MA - MIFA Victory Theatre is excited to announce the Victory Theatre’s historic murals restoration project is complete. Expert restorationists Evergreene Architectural Arts of New York City fully restored the two 23-foot-tall Vincent Maragliotti WPA murals on April 8, 2024. Evergreen’s team moved the murals back to Holyoke masterfully implementing and overseeing their protective storage where they will await reinstallation. The mural's completion is a key step in bringing us closer to a reopened theater. A future public exhibition of the completed murals is in development, stay tuned.
“What a wonderful achievement for MIFA and the City of Holyoke. A significant piece of the city’s history has been preserved for future generations. The mural restoration represents a terrific cooperation between MIFA and the Community Preservation Act Committee, among other donors, and a special shoutout should go to Kip Foley and Meagan Magrath (CPA Committee Chairs), and their committees, and to Michael J. Sullivan for making this happen.”
- Don Sanders, MIFA Executive Artistic Director
Full Press Release here: Restoration Complete
____________________________
Press coverage:
Historic murals restored at Victory Theatre in Holyoke
By SCOTT MERZBACH, Daily Hampshire Gazette, Published: 04-19-2024 3:17 PM
Restoration of Victory Theatre murals complete
by Trent Levakis | May 7, 2024 | Hampden County, Holyoke, Local News, The Reminder
Holyoke holds 3rd annual ‘Doors Open’ event to celebrate 150th anniversary
"HOLYOKE, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - This month marks Holyoke’s 150th year anniversary. The city celebrated Saturday by hosting the 3rd annual Doors Open Holyoke event. It began this morning around 9 a.m. and wrapped up at noon.
Doors Open invites the community to see behind the doors of places not usually open to the public.
It connects residents to local places of historical, cultural, and architectural significance. This year, some of the locations included in this event were the Victory Theatre, H.H. Richardson Station, the Holyoke Fire Department, and more." - Copyright 2023. Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM). All rights reserved.
MIFA Victory Theatre announces a $1 million grant from community philanthropists!
Long-time MIFA supporters John and Elizabeth Armstrong recently pledged a
$1 Million Dollar Gift to the Victory Theatre Project!
"The generosity the Armstrongs have shown MIFA Victory Theatre is beyond words. They bestow such uplifting support for the arts in our community, and MIFA is lucky to call them friends." - Donald Sanders
Victory Theatre Mural Exhibit
Photos by Don Treeger / The Republican 3/8/2023
This muralist lifted Holyoke’s spirits during World War II; the fight today is to bring his works back to life, By Dennis Hohenberger | Special to The Republican, Updated: Mar. 10, 2023, 11:31 a.m. | Published: Mar. 08, 2023, 6:41 p.m., Masslive.com
Western Mass Delegation Visit Victory
Masslive.com Photo Gallery
By Don Treeger | dtreeger@repub.com
Holyoke Victory Theater project gets support from Western Massachusetts legislators
Updated: Jan. 23, 2023, 7:28 p.m. | Published: Jan. 23, 2023, 7:21 p.m.\
By Dennis Hohenberger | Special to The Republican
HOLYOKE – “This isn’t a Holyoke project. It’s a Western Massachusetts regional project,” Mayor Joshua A. Garcia told a delegation of state legislators who visited the long-shuttered Victory Theater today. “I’m hoping we can be strategic and specific and focused as possible to figure out how to close (the funding) gap.” READ MORE
Victory Theater tour brings hope for Holyoke arts, economic development
WWLP22 News, January 23, 2023
Mayor Joshua Garcia of Holyoke explored one of his city’s most pleasant possibilities on Monday.
Business West: A Year In Review
Year In Review
By George O'Brien, December 23, 2022
Victory Theatre Project Gains Momentum
Holyoke officials and groups involved with the arts have been engaged in efforts to try to revitalize the historic Victory Theatre for more than 40 years now. And while this initiative still has a ways to go before it can cross the goal line, some significant progress was seen this past year...
Holyoke pitching in $2M for Victory Theatre redevelopment
By Chad Cain, Managing Editor | Daily Hampshire Gazette
Published: 12/23/2022 2:37:41 PM
HOLYOKE — The ambitious, $61 million effort to reopen the Broadway-style Victory Theatre moved $2 million closer to becoming reality this week after the city made a significant commitment of American Rescue Plan Act money for the project in its downtown. READ MORE
Holyoke pledges $2 million to Victory Theatre
The Reminder - WE ARE HOMETOWN NEWS
Jan. 3, 2023 | Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com
HOLYOKE – Efforts to renovate and reopen Holyoke’s Victory Theatre gained a key bonus from Mayor Joshua Garcia and the city of Holyoke as the mayor announced an additional $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding will go toward the project: READ MORE
Photo credit: Trent Levakis, Reminder Publishing
State Sen. John Velis talks about collaboration for the Victory Theatre project alongside State Rep. Patricia Duffy (center left), Mayor Joshua Garcia (left) and Project Manager Susan Palmer (right).
Press Release: Holyoke Mayor Pledges ARPA Funding for Victory Theatre Project
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 22, 2022
Contact: Linda Matys O’Connell
Cell: 610-295-3125
Holyoke Mayor Pledges ARPA Funding
for Victory Theatre Project
“The return of the Victory Theatre will be epic”
HOLYOKE, MA – In another milestone of momentum for the effort to reopen the historic MIFA Victory Theatre in downtown Holyoke, Mayor Joshua A. Garcia announced his commitment of $2 million to the project through the city’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding process. Citing thoughts he said are “swirling around” the community campaign to reopen the theater – “crown jewel, cultural enrichment, community engagement, downtown revitalization, energy” – Garcia said, “The return of the Victory Theatre will be epic.”