Project Updates
Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia pledges $2 million in federal COVID relief funding for Victory Theatre Project
Updated: Dec. 22, 2022, 9:19 p.m. | Published: Dec. 22, 2022, 6:32 p.m.
By Dennis Hohenberger | Special to The Republican
HOLYOKE — Mayor Joshua A. Garcia pledged $2 million in federal COVID-19 relief aid for the Victory Theatre restoration project, a renewed effort to reopen the 1,600-seat venue once considered a “crown jewel.” READ MORE
Holyoke using $2M for Victory Theatre project
by: Ashley Shook | WWLP-22News
Posted: Dec 22, 2022 / 03:00 PM EST | Updated: Dec 22, 2022 / 11:14 PM EST
A news conference was held in the Mayor’s Office at Holyoke City Hall Thursday with State Representative Pat Duffy, State Senator John Velis and the team from the Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts (MIFA) to share updates on the Victory Theatre restoration project.
The Suffolk Street 1,600-seat theatre dates back to the 1920s and has been closed since 1979.
Holiday Pub Crawl looks to fundraise for Victory Theatre
The Reminder - WE ARE HOMETOWN NEWS
By Trent Levakis tlevakis@thereminder.com | Dec. 12, 2022
HOLYOKE – There will be a Holiday Pub Crawl in the city of Holyoke on Dec. 17 to help with fundraising efforts for the Victory Theatre restoration.
For just $30 per person, tickets are available for the fundraising pub crawl through Holyoke that will cover transportation, food and a Victory Theatre souvenir.
The event starts at 4:30 p.m. at The Clubhouse on 209A South St. to prepare for the crawl itself. At 5:45 p.m., the bus leaves for the Pub Crawl through the city and will stop at local spots like City Sports, Brennan’s, The Clover and Pic’s Pub.
Holyoke’s Victory Theatre receives $250K in COVID relief funds
Donald T. Sanders, executive director of the Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts (MIFA), stands in Holyoke’s Victory Theatre, which MIFA plans to restore. GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
By STEVE PFARRER Staff Writer Published: 12/23/2021 3:27:27 PM
HOLYOKE — Efforts to restore the 100-year-old Victory Theatre in Holyoke have received a significant boost: $250,000 in funding from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA . . . READ MORE
BusinessTalk with Donald Sanders, executive artistic director of MIFA Victory Theatre
Episode 136: November 14, 2022
COVER STORY
Momentum Is Building On Victory Theatre Project
By George O'Brien November 10, 2022
The Next Stage
When asked how many tours he’s given of the Victory Theatre in Holyoke, the landmark that went dark in 1979, Donald Sanders gave a hearty laugh — something he does often — and just shook his head. That was his way of saying ‘more than I could count.’
Those tours have been given to elected officials, economic-development leaders, city department heads, arts groups, members of the media … you name it. They’ve all been in for a look at this piece of history that a city, and a region, have been desperate to renovate and make a part of the future, not merely the past. . .READ MORE
Holyoke officials, Victory Theater board visit Schenectady, New York, Proctors Theatre for ideas, inspiration
By Dennis Hohenberger | Special to The Republican
Published: Oct. 30, 2022, 7:01 a.m.
Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia, Donald Sanders, who helms the Victory Theater project for the Massachusetts International Festival of the Arts (MIFA), Aaron Vega, the city’s planning director, and members of the MIFA board traveled to New York state to tour Schenectady’s theater complex on Oct. 13 ...READ MORE
Legislative Tours
Celebrating an uplifting tour of the Victory Theater with Friends from the offices of
Senator Edward J. Markey, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, state Senator John Velis, state Representative Pat Duffy, Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia, and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. So much energy in the air for the future.
Maura Healey Tours Victory Theatre!
Abandoned theaters provide economic development to cities
June 27, 2022 | G. Michael Dobbs news@thereminder.com
"Don Sanders the executive director of MIFA, said The Victory’s restoration back to a Broadway-style theater could mean the theater would be a stop for touring shows and draw a potential 70,000 people to the Paper City. That’s economic development for sure. " READ MORE
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Gubernatorial candidate Maura Healey visited the Victory Theater on June 22
June 27, 2022 | G. Michael Dobbs
HOLYOKE – In her first campaign swing through Western Massachusetts since the Democratic Party Convention, Attorney General Maura Healey picked up four endorsements from Holyoke officials and spoke about several priorities while visiting The Victory Theater... READ MORE
Healey gets backing in trip to Paper City
By DUSTY CHRISTENSEN Staff Writer
Published: 6/23/2022 7:39:15 PM
www.gazettenet.com Following her press conference, Healey — like nearly every politician who has come to the city before her — toured the Victory Theatre. The 100-year-old theater, which closed in 1979, received its latest bit of funding in December when it got $250,000 from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act. Garcia described the theater as an “anchor organization” for the revitalization of downtown, hopefully bringing in other development to the area once it opens.
“This place, when it is finally up and running, will be for everyone,” McGee said...READ MORE
Maura Healey makes Holyoke campaign stop...
Jun. 23, 2022, 1:11 p.m.
By Dennis Hohenberger | Special to The Republican
HOLYOKE – Gubernatorial candidate Maura Healey gained the endorsement of Mayor Joshua A. Garcia and elected officials during a Wednesday campaign stop in Holyoke, which included the attorney general visiting the Victory Theater...READ MORE
Gubernatorial candidate Maura Healey makes campaign stop in Holyoke
by: Kristina D'Amours, WWLP 22News Jun 22, 2022 / 09:56 PM, Updated: Jun 23, 2022 / 05:28 AM EDT
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, who is running for governor, paid a visit to the City of Holyoke earlier Wednesday afternoon on one of her campaign stops in western Massachusetts.
Healey was at the Victory Theatre in Holyoke to connect with voters and to tour the facility that is being revitalized. There she spoke about the housing crisis across the state and hopes to boost housing production if she were elected...READ MORE