New Spire Arts was founded in 2016 with a catalyzing grant from the Ausherman Family Foundation. The Ausherman Family Foundation had already acquired the former Board of Education headquarters and Art-O-Matic venue at 115 E Church St and the former Cultural Arts Center at 15 W Patrick/15 N Market. Elizabeth Lucas served as the first Creative Director.

In early 2017, New Spire Arts engaged arts consulting firm AMS Planning & Research to help the New Spire Arts team and “kitchen cabinet” of advisors create a strategic plan for the organization and its facilities. AMS guided New Spire Arts in the creation of our mission, vision, and goals. Meanwhile, the first floor of the education building received some basic renovations and updates to prepare for summer programs. In June of 2017, New Spire Studios at 115 E Church St opened its doors to the community for our first workshops and summer classes.

Over the summer of 2017, New Spire Arts contracted Ziger/Snead Architects to design a new performing arts center to be located at 15 W Patrick St. We broke ground on New Spire Stages in January of 2018. The flexible black box theatre and community gathering space opened over MLK Weekend 2019.

Throughout 2017 and 2018 New Spire Arts’ education wing has continued to grow and expand to include new programs and artforms. We have partnered with dozens of local and regional artists, arts organizations, and nonprofits to bring quality programming to people of all ages and abilities.

In 2019 New Spire Arts entered into a partnership with the YMCA of Frederick County to leverage the structure and strength of the YMCA’s educational programming in order to focus on the newly renovated performing arts center, New Spire Stages.

15 W Patrick St. Has a History That Stretches Back Almost 150 Years

1874-1906: Rohrback’s Grocery

Martin N. Rohrback opened his grocery and liquor store in 1874, adjacent to the City Hotel. Rohrback operated the store until 1895, at which point his youngest son Allen Rohrback became proprietor. Allen operated Rohrback’s until he died at age 32.

1928-1996: McCrory’s 5 & 10 Cent Store

15 W Patrick St spent almost seventy years as McCrory’s 5 & 10¢ Store. McCrory’s had already occupied the store at 15 N Market St for close to twenty years when the corporation built their new store on “the old Rohrback property” in 1928. By 1929, McCrory’s had connected 15 N Market with 15 W Patrick, creating the L-shaped building that stands today.

In the 1950s, McCrory’s added its luncheonette counter, located in what was the stockroom and would eventually become the theatre. The corporation reached its peak in the 1960s with 1300 stores nationwide. In 1992, the chain filed bankruptcy, and the Frederick location closed in 1996.

1998-2013: Frederick Cultural Arts Center

In 1998 the property became the Cultural Arts Center of Frederick County, and was owned and managed by the Frederick Arts Council until 2013. The Cultural Arts Center was a community venue for actors, dancers, musicians, and artists of every discipline where they could work, rehearse, perform, or teach.

Plays, music concerts, and dance performances were held in the 106-seat black box theatre. Rehearsals, lectures, special events, and other activities took place throughout the week in the event hall, and the gallery hosted monthly rotating art exhibits.

The facility was one of the busiest arts spaces in Frederick County, with over thirty different groups regularly utilizing the center every year, including Equinox Dance Company and Maryland Ensemble Theatre.

2018-Present: New Spire Arts

In 2017, New Spire Arts contracted Ziger/Snead Architects to design a new performing arts center at 15 West Patrick Street in historic downtown Frederick.

Construction soon began, breathing new life into an iconic downtown building – and enhancing Frederick’s growing Theatre District. After a sellout Grand Opening weekend in January 2019, New Spire Arts is officially open for business!

New Spire Arts features a flexible black box theatre that seats up to 275 people and a gorgeously renovated lobby that doubles as a community gathering space. Contact us today about renting the space, or join us for a show!

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Photo Credits: Rohrback’s Grocery: Heritage Frederick. McCrory’s: The Maryland Room. Cultural Arts Center: The Frederick News Post/ Bill Green.