On Sept. 10th, during the NU2U Street Dance and Pop Up Art Walk, Laramie Main Street will kick off its “Revive the Wyo” fundraising campaign with challenge matches offered by Pence and MacMillan, The McDermit Family, Premier Bone & Joint, and the Wyo Task Force volunteers totaling over $4,000.
Work to Date: In August of 2019, Laramie Main Street was gifted the shuttered Wyo Theater. Since then, a dedicated team of community volunteers made up of artists, entrepreneurs, educators, and preservationists have been exploring the feasibility of what it would take to turn the building into a mixed use entertainment venue. At this time, improvements to the building, including electrical and mechanical upgrades, a fire suppression system, and ADA accessibility, are of highest priority.
Meeting code requirements for public safety and getting the doors open is expected to cost $640,807.
Cost estimates for the full rehabilitation of the building, including the potential for a new stage, sound, and light system, a restored facade, and the ability to reopen the balcony, is projected at $1.5 million. The project team anticipates it will take years to complete the construction based on community buy-in, collaborative partnerships, and the economic climate.
In 2020, Laramie Main Street invested funds from its reserves to match grants from the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, Wyoming Main Street, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and the Guthrie Family Foundation. $73,000 was raised and spent to replace the roof, conduct visioning and pre-development work with a facilitator, architect and engineer.
To date, volunteers have contributed 450 hours to the project with an in kind value of $12,150.
Fundraising Launch, Pop-Up Art Walk & NU2U Street Dance: In conjunction with the 7th annual Pop-Up Art Walk, Laramie Main Street is launching the “Revive the Wyo” fundraising campaign at NU2U’s Annual Street Dance and Costume Party on September 10, 2021 to assist in the rehabilitation of the historic Wyo Theater at 309 S. 5th Street.
The Laramie Pop-Up Art Walk, also hosted by Laramie Main Street, is an annual event during the second week of September that includes established galleries alongside “pop-up” shops, theatre, music, demos, and opportunities for the public to make art. The event celebrates all art forms and recognizes how the arts as a whole bring community together.
The NU2U Street Dance and Costume Party is an annual event hosted and organized by NU2U. The original idea for the event was to provide a free concert to thank the community for its support of the local retail establishment. The street dance and costume party has grown to be an event where NU2U, local bands, and local breweries come together to raise money for a community cause.
The simultaneous timing of these two community events offers the perfect opportunity to launch the “Revive the Wyo” fundraising campaign with a focus on celebrating Laramie’s creative economy.
“As a small business owner and someone who is deeply invested in downtown, I am extremely excited to be able to help kick off the campaign to revive the Wyo Theater. As a Laramie local, I have many memories of the Wyo and know that the community has a deep love for this historic theater. Getting The Wyo open again will be a huge boost for the community and the economic strength of downtown Laramie.”
Rob Harder, co-owner of NU2U shared, “As a small business owner and someone who is deeply invested in downtown, I am extremely excited to be able to help kick off the campaign to revive the Wyo Theater. As a Laramie local, I have many memories of the Wyo and know that the community has a deep love for this historic theater. Getting The Wyo open again will be a huge boost for the community and the economic strength of downtown Laramie.”
For more information about the “Revive the Wyo” campaign, to volunteer, share photos, memories, or make a tax deductible contribution, visit: https://laramiemainstreet.org/thewyo
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Laramie Main Street Alliance strives to preserve historic Downtown Laramie while enhancing its economic and social vitality.
Laramie Main Street Alliance is a 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit Organization, operating as part of the State of Wyoming's “Wyoming Main Street'' program under the Wyoming Business Council, guided by the principles of the National Main Street Program. More information can be found at laramiemainstreet.org.