The Nostalgic Masan Citizen Theater Reopens After 26 Years... Reborn as an Art Creation Space

On the 12th, the opening ceremony of the Masan Arts Council Masan Culture and Arts Center Citizen Theater was held in Changdong, Masanhappo-gu.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] The old Masan Citizen Theater has reopened after 26 years since it closed.

On the afternoon of the 12th, Changwon City in Gyeongnam and the Masan branch of the Korea Federation of Artistic & Cultural Organizations held an opening ceremony for the Masan Culture and Arts Center Citizen Theater in Changdong, Masanhappo-gu.

The Citizen Theater was the local theater of Changwon City. During its heyday in the 1970s and 1980s as a premiere theater, it was famous as a meeting place for Changwon citizens.

However, with the advent of multiplex cinemas and the decline of the old Masan downtown area, it closed after screening "Gone with the Wind" in 1995.

Since then, it was used as a roller skating rink and other purposes. Local artists led the reopening by renting the Citizen Theater building and renovating the interior with support from citizens and corporate sponsors.

It reopened by relocating the Changdong Art Small Theater, which was located in the basement of the former Megaline Masan branch.

The first floor houses a small theater and lecture room with a capacity of 100 seats, and the second floor includes a training room, dressing room, and gallery.

The Korea Federation of Artistic & Cultural Organizations Masan branch operates the theater, and Changwon City supports the theater's operating expenses such as rent.

Mayor Heo Seong-mu of Changwon said, “Despite the arts community suffering significant damage due to COVID-19, local artists have fully demonstrated their capabilities in establishing the Masan Culture and Arts Center. I hope COVID-19 will end soon so that many citizens can visit the theater, and I expect it will greatly help revitalize the local commercial district.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.