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The Renaissance
Foundation Invites the Public to Historic Bethel’s
90th Birthday Celebration
The
Renaissance Foundation will host a 90th
birthday celebration for Historic Bethel on
Thursday, June 9 from 1721 hours to 1921
hours (5:21 p.m. to 7:21 p.m.) at 1528 Sumter
Street.
In
1921, the heart of downtown Columbia, a renaissance
of sorts was taking place with the construction of
Historic Bethel. Today, the renaissance continues
with the restoration and transformation of Historic
Bethel into a Cultural Arts Center. Historic
Bethel was designed by John Anderson Lankford, the
first registered African American architect in the
United States who was also known as the “Dean of
Negro architecture”. Historic Bethel is only one
of three monumental Romanesque structures designed
by Lankford remaining in South Carolina. It is on
the National Historic Register and a National
Heritage Tour Site.
The
vision is to create a state-of-the-art performing
arts facility and museum that will enhance Columbia
City Center’s inventory of venues. The first level
will include a museum to house the history of the
African-American Faith Community and SC Black “Hall
of Fame” inductees. The second level will include
a 500-600 seats high-tech performing arts venue.
The third level will be the home to the Bell Tower
Chapel of Spirituality and Healing which will serve
as a meditation area.
Organized in 1996, the Renaissance Foundation
became a 501 © 3 non-profit in 2001. This
non-profit organization was established for the
charitable purpose of improving the lives of people
of all ages and enhancing the quality of life in
their neighborhoods. Its mission: to
provide cultural diversity, outreach, resources,
partnerships and initiatives within the community in
order to bridge the gaps of disparities and to
provide a platform to address these issues. For
additional information please contact The
Renaissance Foundation at (803) 733.5634 or online
at
www.renaissancefoundationsc.org
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