Bill > K00342

This resolution commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Clemens Center, a historic performing arts venue located in Elmira, New York, which will be celebrated on May 10, 2025. Originally opened in 1925 as the Keeney Theater, a 2,500-seat vaudeville and silent film house, the center has overcome significant challenges, including two major floods in 1946 and 1972. In 1975, when the building was slated for demolition to make way for a highway, a citizens group raised $750,000 to save and upgrade the facility, with its first performance taking place in 1977. The center now includes two performance spaces: the majestic Powers Theater and the intimate Mandeville Hall, and it annually hosts over 55 performing arts organizations, including local theater, ballet, and orchestra groups. The resolution recognizes the Clemens Center's important contribution to the cultural richness of Chemung County by offering school programs, subsidized facility rentals, and supporting the local arts community. By pausing to commemorate this milestone, the Legislative Body aims to honor the center's century-long commitment to promoting arts and entertainment in New York State.

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/K342