Who we are and what we do.
CENTER IN THE SQUARE PROVIDES A FREE HOME TO SIX NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
The Western Virginia Foundation for the Arts and Sciences is an independent, private 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Foundation owns and operates four downtown Roanoke properties:
- Center in the Square
- Center on Church
- The former Shenandoah Hotel
- The former Raymond Loewy Norfolk and Western Passenger Station
Housed within our signature building known as Center in the Square are five cultural arts and science non-profit organizations:
Center in the Square provides its beneficiary organizations with:
- Free utilities
- Free maintenance
- Free custodial
- Free security services
A value estimated at $2.9 million. These services represent approximately 30-percent of the organizations' operating budget.
By providing these services we give each organization's creative staff the time to focus on bringing the best in exhibitions and programming to our region without having to worry about raising funds to cover rent and other building expenses. While helping our beneficiary organizations, Center in the Square continues to serve as a catalyst for downtown revitalization and economic development, as well as excellence in education.
One additional non-profit art organization is supported in the same way but is housed off-site at an independent locations.
Collectively, we draw over 400,000 visitors annually from across the nation and forty foreign countries, including approximately 200,000 children from 44-percent of Virginia's school districts whose educational experiences are enriched significantly by the six organizations. The in-house and outreach programs offered by Center's organizations enhance classroom instruction in science and the arts, preparing students for successful futures.
Our primary day-to-day activities are to operate these buildings and to raise the funds necessary to take care of all the housing-related needs for these six independent, non-profit arts and cultural organizations.