History:

Since a renovation of Bowling Green’s beloved Capitol Theater on Fountain Square was completed in 1981, the Capitol, along with Van Meter Auditorium at Western Kentucky University, stood as Bowling Green’s primary venues for major performing arts activities, especially those touring from outside the region. However, by the end of the next decade it was becoming clear that the Capitol had built an audience for larger productions than Bowling Green could accommodate.

A group of concerned civic leaders, not only interested in creating a new, larger venue for the Performing Arts, but also creating an attraction that would help stimulate downtown development, sought support for such a center. In July 2000, Warren County created the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center, Inc. (SKyPAC) to accept a $6.7 million dollar appropriation from the Commonwealth of Kentucky designed to fund early architectural and feasibility studies, acquire land, hire architects and fund early operating costs.