Project Updates

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

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).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 22, 2022

Contact: Linda Matys O’Connell

Cell: 610-295-3125

lmoconnell@mifafestival.org

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.”

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

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.

READ MORE

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.

READ MORE 

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 

Episode 136: November 14, 2022

Listen Now

By George O'Brien November 10, 2022

BusinessWest.com 

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 

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

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.

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 

&

Gubernatorial candidate Maura Healey visited the Victory Theater on June 22

June 27, 2022 | G. Michael Dobbs

news@thereminder.com

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