Old Saybrook voters have approved $6.3 million in municipal bonding to expand the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, clearing the final funding hurdle for an $11.3 million project that will add a second theater and new classroom and exhibit space to the 115-year-old former town hall. The referendum passed by a vote of 848 to 604.
The vote took place Tuesday, September 29, at the Old Saybrook High School gymnasium, where more than 1,400 total residents turned out to decide on two separate town ballot questions, according to the Town of Old Saybrook. The Kate's expansion appeared as Question 2, while Question 1 — a $6.2 million measure to rebuild the town's Department of Public Works garage — passed by a wider margin of 1,237 to 209, suggesting the arts center bond drew more scrutiny from residents weighing town debt and tax impacts. As Connecticut Post reports, The Kate itself had already raised $5 million toward the project privately, with the town's bonding covering the remainder of the $11.3 million total cost.
What the Expansion Adds
The project will add a two-story, 7,500-square-foot expansion to the current building, which sits in the former Old Saybrook Town Hall and is owned by the town, per the Connecticut Post's reporting. The new wing includes dedicated classrooms, expanded exhibit space for the Katharine Hepburn Museum, backstage artist support facilities, and additional administrative workspace, according to the CT Examiner. A new 90-seat flexible theater will bring the venue's total seating capacity to 376 once the project is complete.
Brett Elliott, executive director of The Kate, said residents' support represents an investment in the building and in the cultural, educational and community life of the town and region, according to the Connecticut Post. Elliott had also told town officials in September that the expanded venue is projected to generate between $4 million and $4.5 million in annual economic activity for local businesses, including Main Street restaurants and retailers, per Citizen Portal.
A Venue Already Running at Capacity
The push for more space comes after a year in which the center hosted 425 events, sold 75,000 tickets, welcomed roughly 80,000 total visitors, and served 400 children through its summer camp programs, the CT Examiner reported. Since officially opening in 2009, the venue has drawn more than 675,000 ticketed patrons to downtown Old Saybrook, according to the same Citizen Portal report. Leadership projects that total programming capacity will grow by approximately 35 percent over a two-year ramp-up period once the new facility is finished.
The added space will allow The Kate to expand its slate of programming beyond its current offerings, including after-school arts education programs, workshops and classes, master classes with visiting artists, more film screenings and lectures, and additional community partnerships, the Connecticut Post reports. The extra performance space is also expected to let the venue book more local artists and emerging national touring acts, while expanding its student matinee series.
A Building Tied to Local History
The structure dates to 1911, when it was built for $20,000 as the Old Saybrook Town Hall and theater. It historically hosted film screenings, community sports, and visits from figures including actress Ethel Barrymore in 1935 and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1943, according to history compiled by the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center. Because the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, construction plans were reviewed by the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office, and the original performance space will remain unaltered, per the same Citizen Portal account.
To address concerns over parking and traffic raised during town meetings, center officials developed a plan to manage visitor vehicles through staggered event scheduling and off-street parking agreements within 1,000 feet of the building, including spaces at Porter Plaza and Grace Church. Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2026 or early 2027 and take approximately 12 months, according to the Connecticut Post. The Kate is expected to remain open throughout the construction period, with any temporary closures or schedule adjustments announced in advance to patrons and the community, officials said.
