Legion Arts Seeks CSPS Photographs

CSPS Hall has been a longtime, vital social center for the Cedar Rapids Czech community, as well as the city in general. This great old building is now getting a major renovation, sparked by $4.8 million in I-JOBS funding and $1.2 million in state historic tax credits. Legion Arts, located in CSPS since 1992, wants to honor the building’s history by documenting CSPS across all stages of its lifespan, from 1891 to the present. We are seeking photographs from any era, whether of formal events or informal gatherings. No picture taken here is insignificant!  We want to borrow original photographs, photo negatives, postcards, or other pictures of CSPS Hall to make digital scans suitable for reproduction and eventual display once the building re-opens in 2011.

The renovation is a tremendously exciting project. Extensive improvements will create a new experience not only for visiting artists and audience members, but for local artists and companies, as well as the New Bohemia district and downtown Cedar Rapids.

The project, formulated through a series of community forums held at CSPS last summer, includes enhanced versions of the existing theatre and gallery spaces; the construction of additional presenting, studio and educational space on the ground floor; the opening of an arts incubator, also on the ground floor, to serve small and emerging arts organizations; and two to three ground floor retail operations.

In addition, the entire landmark building -- just shy of 120 years old, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, damaged but intact after the 2008 floods -- will get the structural overhaul it deserves.

The plan incorporates increased accessibility; updated electrical systems, climate control and plumbing; improvements in safety and energy efficiency; increased parking and upgraded street presence. Subtle physical changes to the exterior will preserve the building's historic features while fostering accessibility and greater community engagement.

Help us document the history of this important place. Legion Arts will take extremely good care of your original images and negatives, and return them promptly. And, we will supply you with complimentary digital copies of your images. We also accept images that have already been digitized. If you have photographs of CSPS that you can loan, please contact Todd Kimm at (319) 364-1580 or todd@legionarts.org.