The New Village Arts Center (NVA) recently celebrated the start of major renovations and the renaming of the new Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center with its groundbreaking ceremony.
The renovations will upgrade the space and its offerings, with highlights including an extensive education program, a one-of-a-kind live performance center, a vibrant exterior, and an expanded lobby estimated to garner an uptick in patron attendance.
The renaming of the center after playwright and community leader, Dea Hurston, marks the first fine arts center to be named after a Black woman in the last 50 years.
For more than three decades, Hurston has been a powerful force in San Diego’s theatre community as an underwriter, arts commissioner, community engagement leader, and outspoken voice for creating opportunities for women and actors, directors, designers, and playwrights of color.
Expressing her gratitude for this honor, Hurston said, “I’ve enjoyed exploring my artistry through writing, and the New Village Arts Center has played a significant role in creating a space for me to foster my creativity. I believe creatives thrive when surrounded by others who share their zeal for the arts, and I hope the center will serve as a place for artists to inspire one another through coming together.”
In addition to the renaming of the building, NVA is creating the Dea Hurston Fellowship program, which creates opportunities at the high school, college, and professional levels for BIPOC women and other underrepresented artists. Kristianne Kurner, NVA founder and executive artistic director, spoke about the partnership, saying, “As New Village Arts was preparing for both our 20th Anniversary and the major renovation of our facility, we put a lot of thought into what it means to have someone’s name on your building.
“We thought about which person in San Diego has done the most to support the arts, both as a patron and an artist – the overwhelming choice was Dea Hurston. Ms. Hurston is not only an important playwright, but she has been a leader in the San Diego arts community for over 30 years,” said Kurner.
“She has created innumerable opportunities for younger BIPOC artists, and all of us at New Village Arts are so very proud to have our building named in Dea Hurston’s honor.”
Through the support of the Conrad Prebys Foundation, the Sahm Family Foundation, the Nordson Foundation, the Ginn Family Foundation, and countless generous donors, the campaign to raise funds for the building renovation is expected to reach its goal in 2022. As construction begins in July, the NVA will host performances at The Flower Fields in mid-August, with an expected renovation completion date of November 2022.