Opened in March, 1987, after a $2.7 million renovation of the Pythian Theater, The King Arts Complex is located on the near East side of Columbus, Ohio, in one of the oldest areas of African-American life in the city. With an additional $1.8 million renovation, Phase II opened in October 1989 creating a 60,000 square foot facility. Serving as a major anchor for development in the King-Lincoln District, The King Arts Complex is an oasis for cultural and educational activities as well a community facility for special events.

Through a multidisciplinary approach, The King Arts Complex offers performing, cultural and educational programs that provide high artistic merit, varied and diverse experiences, and which increase and disseminate knowledge regarding the vast and significant contributions of African-Americans to the culture and history of America and the world.

The mission of The King Arts Complex is to enrich and improve the quality of life in our community and society, creating enhanced understanding and harmony by preserving, presenting and fostering the contributions of African Americans through creative expression and education while building bridges of harmony and connecting links between all people.

The vision for The King Arts Complex is to serve as a Greater Columbus resource providing all citizens the opportunity to be educated, exposed, entertained and enriched by the history of the African-American experience and the contributions of African-Americans, past and present. People of all colors, creeds, economic status, religion, and age should feel welcomed and comfortable, with a greater understanding and respect for those of diverse cultures, specifically African-Americans as well as recognize the importance of our differences while appreciating how much we share in common.

The vision for The King Arts Complex is one where the arts thrive as a vehicle to give voice to the rich and diverse experiences and contributions that portray the American dream and inspire us all. Our vision is to be a place where children, artists and people in general come together and preserve, create, educate, celebrate and nurture the humanity within each of us.

For additional information, please visit our website.