Big changes are coming to the Freeman Arts Pavilion in Selbyville.
For years, the pavilion has been home to artists from all genres, hailing from the First State and around the world. And for years, those artists have appeared on a fairly small mobile stage. Now, the Freeman Arts Foundation is putting in a larger permanent stage with full backstage facilities. Patti Grimes is the executive director of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation.
“Today, when world class artists come on tour to Freeman Arts Pavilion, we have green tents behind our stage," she said. "We're really just thrilled to be able to host our artists with permanent back of the house facilities as well as this great stage.”
The new stage, measuring about 100 feet by 40 feet, will double the size of the current stage. But, Grimes says, it won’t be built overnight. Still, the show will go on during construction.
“It will take multiple years and so when patrons come to Freeman Arts Pavilion in 2025, when they look to their right, they'll be able to see the new stage coming out of the ground," she said.
The pavilion regularly hosts home-grown artists as well as nationally-known acts like Bonnie Raitt, Trombone Shorty, and Lyle Lovett. Grimes says the national acts are a big draw for audiences.
“Since 2010, we have had national recording artists grace our stage," she said. "So, many people love coming to see our national recording artist because you don't have to travel two to three hours.”
Grimes says the group serves over 100,000 arts fans each year and recently celebrated serving its one millionth attendee.
Delaware Public Media's arts coverage is made possible, in part, by support from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency dedicated to nurturing and supporting the arts in Delaware, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.
