Lyric Theatre And Cultural Arts Center

THE MISSION OF THE LYRIC THEATRE & CULTURAL ARTS CENTER IS TO PRESERVE, PROMOTE, PRESENT, AND CELEBRATE DIVERSE CULTURES THROUGH ARTISTIC PRESENTATIONS OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AND OUTREACH, FILM, AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY INCLUSION.

THE LYRIC THEATRE AND CULTURAL ARTS CENTER, A MULTI-USE ART AND PERFORMANCE VENUE THAT ORIGINALLY OPENED AS A MOVIE HOUSE IN 1948, CLOSING IN 1963 BEFORE RENOVATION AND REOPENING IN 2010. LAUDING A HISTORY OF MOVIES, FASHION SHOWS, VAUDEVILLE ACTS, LOCAL CONCERTS, PAGEANTS AND MANY NOTABLE PERFORMERS OF JAZZ AND RHYTHM & BLUES, THE LYRIC THEATRE AND CULTURAL ARTS CENTER REOPENED UNDER A NEW MISSION AS A CENTER FOR ART, COMMUNITY, HISTORY AND EDUCATION. THE THEATRE HOUSES A PROSCENIUM THEATER THAT SEATS OVER 500, AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CULTURE MUSEUM, A ROTATING ART GALLERY, COURTYARD AND A 325 CAPACITY MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM. ROOTED IN ITS AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE, TODAY THE LYRIC FOCUSES ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN LEXINGTON'S EAST END AND HOSTS ARTS PERFORMANCES, RENTAL EVENTS, LUNCHEONS, MOVIE VIEWINGS, YOUTH PROGRAMS, AND MANY OTHER DIVERSE EVENTS. THE MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY HOSTS A VARIETY OF ROTATING CULTURAL ART EXHIBITS WITH FREE ADMISSION, INCLUDING THE UPCOMING JOSEPH A PEARSON JUNETEENTH EXHIBITION. PAST SHOWINGS INCLUDE EXHIBITS OF ISAAC MURHPY, LATINX ARTWORKS, INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S FESTIVAL ARTWORKS, AFRICAN AMERICAN ART EXHIBITIONS FROM ARTISTS LIKE DAFRI, TOURING INTERNATIONAL CHINESE ART EXHIBITS, THE KENTUCKY WATER COLOR SOCIETY "AQUAVENTURE" EXHIBIT AND THE NATIONAL AIDS MEMORIAL QUILT, AMONG OTHERS. THE MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM HOSTS MANY TYPES OF EVENTS THAT INCLUDE NAACP FUNDRAISERS, UNIVERSITY CLASSROOM MEETINGS, CUMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, WEDDING EVENTS, ANNIVERSARIES, REUNIONS, MEMORIALS, GOVERNMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL CONFERENCES, PUBLIC FORUMS LIKE THE MOST RECENT COMMUNITY CANDIDATE FORUM FEATURING MAYORAL AND COUNTY EXECUTIVE CANDIDATES, STAFF AND BOARD RETREATS, BACK TO SCHOOL BACKPACK CARNIVAL WITH COMMUNITY PARTNER COLLABORATION, MUSIC LESSONS FOR KIDS, AND MORE.SOME SIGNATURE PROGRAMMING PRESENTED BY THE LYRIC THEATRE & CULTURAL ARTS CENTER INCLUDES F.A.M. (FAMILY ART MEMORIES), A MONTHLY COMMUNITY FAMILY ART PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH AN AFRICAN AMERICAN FARM EDUCATION COOPERATIVE TO FOSTER FAMILY CREATIVITY AND ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY AND HEALTHY EATING; AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL PROGRAMMING THAT CENTERS AROUND BLACK HISTORY, KWANZAA, MARTIN LUTHER KING CELEBRATION, AND JUNETEENTH. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE BACK TO SCHOOL CARNIVAL IN COLLABORATION WITH THE WILLIAM WELLS BROWN NEIGHBORHOOD ASSICIATION, AFRICANA SATURDAY SCHOOL TO EDUCATE YOUNG BLACK MEN AND BOYS, PARTICIPATION IN THE YEARLY GALLERY HOP WITH OTHER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, SUMMER YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMS, LYRIC & LIFE PARLOR-STYLE PROGRAMS TO BRING TOGETHER ARTISTS WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND THE NEWLY MINTED MAIN STAGE ARTIST SERIES WHICH FEATURES NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS LIKE DENISE KING AND ROBERT FINLEY WHO SHARE THE STATE WITH LOCAL ARTIST OPENING ACTS LIKE INTREPID JAZZ ENSEMBLE, AND THE SOON TO BE ESTABLISHED "JAZZ NIGHT AT THE LYRIC AND THE "JOKES AND JAZZ JUKEBOX" SERIES.THE LYRIC THEATRE IS ALSO HOME TO THE NATIONALLY SHOWCASED WOODSONGS PROGRAM WHICH IS RECORDED IN THE THEATRE ON MONDAY EVENINGS FOR 48 WEEKS OUT OF THE YEAR AND PLAYS HOST TO MORE THAN 7500 BROADCAST AUDIENCE ATTENDEES. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OVER 40,000 PEOPLE COME THROUGH THE DOORS OF THE LYRIC THEATRE TO PARTICIPATE IN ARTS, EDUCATION, CULTURAL AND RENTAL EVENTS. THE LYRIC CONTINUES TO GROW PROGRAMMING BY SEEKING OUT NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENTERTAINMENT, CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL ENGAGEMENT. AND THOUGH THE PANDEMIC HAS CREATED SOME CHALLENGES, THE LYRIC THEATRE WILL CONTINUE TO RISE TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF MAKING ARTS AND CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAMMING ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.