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Residents press council to fund repair of Paul Robeson Theater; General Services director says grants being pursued
Summary
Community artists and organizations urged Detroit City Council to support renovation of the Paul Robeson Theater at the Northwest Activity Center; the city’s Department of General Services said it has not yet identified funding but is pursuing grants and short‑term fixes.
Community artists and organizations urged Detroit City Council to support renovation of the Paul Robeson Theater at the Northwest Activity Center, and the city’s General Services director said the department is pursuing grant funding and temporary fixes while a formal funding request has not been presented to council.
What happened: several in‑person commenters — representing Chosen 1 Productions, Cheer Lady Productions, playwright Jennifer McClain and others — told council the Paul Robeson Theater has long needed repairs to lighting, seating and other production equipment. Tanya Ayers, who said she staged her first production in the space in 2014, described persistent problems with lighting and seating and asked council to “reconsider” funds to restore the venue.
Director Crystal Perkins, representing the Department of General Services, responded later in the meeting. Perkins said: “We have not identified funding for the theater at this time. We have been diligently working with the administration, also through our office of grant developments team as well to pursue funding to renovate, bring a theater back to a state of good repair.” She added the department has been renting replacement curtains for recent shows and identified seating, flooring and production equipment as priorities for renovation.
Council follow‑up and servicing: Council staff said they would continue to coordinate with Council Member Whitfield Calloway’s office and the Department of General Services. The director said her office and the grants team have identified a potential grant application to pursue and that she would share budget needs and updates with council staff.
Why it matters: community members said the theater is an accessible, affordable performance space that has incubated local talent and film projects and that repair could boost local arts and youth programs. Council requested follow‑up from General Services and said staff would provide an update to the requestors and to the council.
