A study of Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts and its relationship with Harrisburg's arts organizations

This thesis investigates the rise in new and newly renovated arts facilities to better understand the city of Harrisburg's new performing arts center, Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, and its affect on the local arts community. It identifies three important environmental elements that have contributed to the art center phenomenon; building constraints, a new economy, and downtown revitalization efforts. A history of the city will identify the its cultural past and punctuate the impact that the facility has had on the downtown area. Results from an online survey posed to local arts organizations will aide in giving a general representation of the relationship between the Center and these groups. A combination of environmental elements and survey responses will assist in determining whether the Center's presence has been a help or hindrance to the area's arts organizations. The final section of the paper will identify models for future artistic progress between the Center and the local arts community as well as possible further research.