The existence of the Peace Center for the Performing Arts is an example of tenacity and vision in the face of challenging circumstances. In the early 1980s, Greenville’s downtown, like that of many cities nationwide, suffered from out-migration to the suburbs. Main Street was a hodgepodge of vacant lots, empty storefronts, and declining businesses. In 1985 a citizens’ committee was formed by the city, and fundraising efforts were begun by Greenville’s Peace family. The Peace Center opened in 1990, on a six-acre site once containing industrial buildings dating back to the Civil War.
Today the Peace Center offers the region’s broadest selection of theatre, music, dance and film. Local arts companies in residence at the Center include the Carolina Ballet Theatre, Greenville Symphony Orchestra, International Ballet, and the South Carolina Children’s Theatre. Its numerous event series include Downtown Films (featuring independent films, often by regional filmmakers), Opera in Cinema, and the Peace Outreach Program (POP), which offers frequent cultural and educational events for local youth.
Peace Center for the Performing Arts Information
- Public Transportation: Poor
- Handicapped Accessibility: Good
- Performances/Programs: Approximately 300 events annually
- Ticket Prices: Vary ($8-80) depending on event and seating
- Subscriptions/Membership: 4-show subscription packages available to Broadway Season productions ($128-320) depending on event dates and seating choice).
