[Archived] Dedication and Open House of Durant Center Scheduled for Nov. 13

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

For Immediate Release
October 25, 2004
PIO 254-04/bg

Dedication and Open House of Durant Center
Is Scheduled for Nov. 13

The dedication ceremony and open house for The Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center, one of Alexandria's main studios and stages for visual and performing arts, is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 13. The ceremony begins at 8:30 am and the open house is scheduled from 9:30 am until 2 pm. In addition to tours of the Center, activities scheduled during the open house include demonstrations from groups which use the center, local visual artists, the Recycled Art program, students from Jefferson-Houston School of Arts & Academics, and other entertainment. The Durant Memorial Center is located at 1605 Cameron St.

Operated by the Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, the renovated and expanded building has over 15,000 square feet for drawing, painting and sculpting, music and stagecraft, and serves as the home office for the therapeutic recreation program.

With multi-purpose rooms and other features, City residents can take advantage of programs, performances, arts shows, and reserve the space for receptions and meetings.

Connected to Jefferson-Houston Elementary by a well-windowed hallway, young artists and performers can use the facilities of both the school and the recreation center.

The Dr. Oswald Durant Center was named for an African-American who served during WWI before becoming a medical doctor and setting up practice in Alexandria. His name-sake center began as a U.S.O. in May 30, 1942. In 1946, it was turned over to the City of Alexandria.

For more information about the Durant Center or the Open House, call 703.519.3494.