Amphitheater Study

With the vision to create a community gathering space in Martinsville, the City and the Harvest Foundation are seeking to conduct a study on the impact and feasibility of an amphitheater. 

History

Since the late 1920s, the historic Rives Theater stood as a cultural cornerstone in Martinsville's Uptown district, serving as the primary venue for musical performances. The theater was destroyed by a fire in 2019, leaving a void in the heart of Uptown that remains unfilled.

As part of ongoing Uptown revitalization efforts, in 2022 Uptown Partnership gathered community feedback, revealing a strong desire for a new amphitheater to serve as a vibrant hub for arts and entertainment. 

Although initial plans for such a space have been in development for years, progress gained momentum when The Lester Group expressed a potential willingness to donate an 8.8-acre site ideal for an amphitheater.

In October 2024, the Harvest Foundation presented the Martinsville City Council with a compelling case to advance the project, highlighting the need for a feasibility study to guide final designs and bolster grant applications for construction funding.

Thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Harvest Foundation, matched by local funding from the City of Martinsville, the City is now seeking bids from planning firms to complete this critical study, marking an exciting step toward transforming this vision into reality.

Studies and Resources

The links listed below are studies and resources that provide information pertinent to this project. 

• Preliminary Feasibility Report - Artspace Projects, Inc. (2007)
• 51 Lester Street Feasibility Study (Adjacent Property) - CJMW Architecture (2022)
• Martinsville and Henry County Housing Market Study - Novogradac (2020)
• Uptown Martinsville Revitalization Plan - City of Martinsville (2010) 
• Uptown Community Vision Plan Recommendations - Uptown Partnership (2022)
• Move to Martinsville