The "King" and "Lincoln" behind King Lincoln-Bronzeville
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The Lincoln Theatre marquee. Photo: Brad Feinknopf, courtesy of the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts
Former city leaders rebranded Bronzeville as the King-Lincoln District in 2002, aiming to highlight the cultural significance of two historic community anchors.
Here's what you need to know about the King Arts Complex and Lincoln Theatre.
🎨 The King Arts Complex, 835 Mount Vernon Ave.
Then: Opened in 1987, after a renovation connected the former Garfield Elementary School and Pythian Theatre buildings.
Now: Hosts artistic and cultural events, serves as a gathering place.
- A local arts group purchased the theater side in 2021, which will be renovated with help from state tax credits.
What they're saying: "We're a cornerstone," new CEO Regina Ann Campbell tells Axios. "As things change around us … having a constant of culture and history that the King Arts Complex represents is huge."
🎭 The Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St.
Then: Opened in 1928 as the Ogden Theatre, closed in the '60s and sat vacant during Bronzeville's difficult decades. Saved from demolition in the '90s, renovated and reopened in 2009.
Now: It's "more than a theater," offering educational programs alongside performances.
What they're saying: "What we fight for every day is to make sure individuals feel like this is their theater," associate director Gamal Brown says. "Even if you don't live here … when you walk in, you feel a sense of 'I belong.'"
Go deeper: The story of Bronzeville, a hub of local Black history
