News-Journal Center is a landmark theater complex designed to offer sophisticated, state-of-the-art theatrical experiences for students, local non-profit organizations, professional performers and arts patrons alike. Previously known in our community as the Lively Arts Center, the name of the facility has become News-Journal Center through a generous naming rights agreement provided by the News-Journal Corporation. Through this long-term agreement, the News-Journal Corporation has provided a $13 million commitment to the project. This exciting agreement is the single greatest private commitment to such a project in the history of this area, and it continues the significant support for the arts and the local community consistently demonstrated by the News-Journal Corporation over the years.

The agreement with the News-Journal Corporation brings the total amount of support from the private sector for this project to $18.5 million - or 64 percent of the project´s $29 million total budget. The remaining funding - 36 percent - comes from public sources, as the building will be used and enjoyed by the public at-large.

Over many months and years, the development of News-Journal Center has taken place, moving from the feasibility, design development, and construction document stages. All the while fundraising has been in progress to raise the funds required to construct the facility, as well as to establish an endowment of $3 million to ensure effective operations once the facility is opened. A public groundbreaking ceremony took place in March 2004. Project completion was achieved in late 2005, with the first opening night performance in January 2006.

A unique public/private partnership, the News-Journal Center serves as a cultural community center that will accommodate on-going, simultaneous events in the arts, culture and education. The facility contains space for non-profit arts, cultural and community organizations to rehearse and perform, with rental rates appropriate for non-profit budgets. It also houses a nationally unique Master of Fine Arts in Musical Theater degree program through an innovative partnership between the University of Central Florida and Seaside Music Theater, a proposed performing arts academy for high school students from across Volusia County, and exhibit space programmed and supervised by the Museum of Arts and Sciences.

News-Journal Center serves our residents, students and visitors as a beautiful public reflection and gathering space and as a place of public resource. Your involvement as arts supporters will be very important to the success of the facility once completed, so please plan to join us in our efforts. For more information, contact the Lively Arts Center, Inc., offices at 386-226-1888.

A Campaign for the Arts and Arts Education
The News-Journal Center is the first facility of its kind in this region of Florida - a mid-sized venue for the performing and visual arts designed to welcome participating artists, students, residents and visitors from Volusia County, the surrounding regional area, the state of Florida and the nation.

The Center is an architectural landmark - a facility for professional performances, educational outreach, and community-wide involvement. The Center will welcome thousands each year - many emerging artists, established stars of the stage, students in the arts, and vibrant cultural and arts organizations. The News-Journal Center is now open to the public as a place for artistic enlightenment, personal reflection and cultural enjoyment.

News-Journal Center serves our residents, students and visitors as a beautiful public reflection and gathering space and as a place of public resource. Your involvement as arts supporters will be very important to the success of the facility, so please plan to join us in our efforts. For more information, contact the Lively Arts Center, Inc., offices at 386-226-1888 or 226-1903.

News-Journal Center · 221 N. Beach St. · Daytona Beach, Florida 32114 · 386-226-1888

© 2007 Lively Arts Center, Inc.
The Lively Arts Center, Inc. is the non-profit organization charged with the operation and management of the News-Journal Center. Renderings by Baker Barrios Architects, Orlando. Photos by The Daytona Beach News-Journal are used with permission.