Snapshot of CST History
1998: Court Square Theater, once the home of Rockingham Motor Company, opens its doors at 61 Graham Street. The 250-seat theater becomes a reality through the visionary leadership of, and extensive renovations by, the Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing (HRHA) as part of the downtown revitalization effort. The theater is managed by HRHA until July 2001.
2000: Community discussions start, in part, to determine the long-term management of Court Square Theater. A group of community leaders advocate the establishment of a non-profit organization to manage the theater’s operations. Out of these discussions, the Arts Council of the Valley was formed as the non-profit organization charged with managing Court Square Theater.
2001: Nonprofit status was conferred on the Arts Council of the Valley in October 2001. In July 2001, the Arts Council of the Valley enters into an agreement with HRHA to manage Court Square Theater. Over the years, the Arts Council of the Valley has matured and expanded its scope of programming to include a broader range of cultural programs and services. Today, it is regarded as one organization with two downtown locations and three core initiatives: performing arts, visual arts, and education. Its geographic range includes the Harrisonburg/Rockingham area.