The Sacramento City Council voted Tuesday night to spend $5 million on an arts center that has been years in the making.
The former Fremont School for Adults on N street in Midtown will be converted into a rehearsal space for arts groups such as the ballet, the philharmonic orchestra, the opera and possibly other smaller organizations.
Plan to convert Fremont School of Adults into Studios for the Performing Arts
Councilman Steve Hansen said the project could help boost the arts.
"I hope and I think a lot of you see opportunity to create a more cohesive arts community," said Hansen.
Michael Vester danced with the Sacramento Ballet for years. He told council members that as a child, he spent time at the Children's Receiving Home, which helps families affected by neglect, abuse and other problems.
Vester said seeing a ballet performance in elementary school changed his life and he fully supports the project:
"We accept everybody and everybody can grow and learn from it," said Vester. "It's a beautiful thing and I am totally absolutely in support of it. I live in Sacramento and it made me who I am."
Renovations would begin next spring. The Sacramento Ballet's current building lease at its K street space will expire in August.
The center would be called the E. Claire Raley Studios for the Performing Arts.
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