Schwartz Center for the Arts
The Schwartz Center for the Arts was originally constructed in 1904 and known as The Dover Opera House. George M. Schwartz expanded it into a movie theater in 1923 and tabbed it The Capital Theater. For years, the Theatre flourished but in the 1970s fell into a state of disrepair and in 1982, the doors were closed. After an intensive statewide fundraising campaign, The Friends of the Capitol Theater, raised enough money to develop an extensive modernization and expansion. The beautiful $8.5 million facility reopened in October, 2001, dubbed the Schwartz Center for the Arts. In 2004, a strategic alliance was formed to collaborate the resources of Wesley College, Delaware State University, and The Friends of the Capitol Theater, to maximize usage and position the historic treasure as the premiere performing arts center in Central Delaware. In January, 2007, the relationship was formalized with the three becoming equal partners in the operation, management and programming of the Center. The agreement created a new 501(c)(3) organization with a board, that oversees fund-raising and philanthropic activities.
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