Dream#1
American’s with Disabilities Act compliance.
I’m sure this one comes as no surprise to anyone. This has been the #1 priority for our organization for over 10 years.
The Friends of Dreamland -the board members, donors, and other supporters- never gave up when this momentous objective seemed like nothing more than a pipe dream. Our dedication was recognized and rewarded by the National Park Services in 2017 and again 2019 when we applied for a grant, through the African American Civil Rights Preservation program, that would build an elevator addition to the Dreamland Ballroom on the third floor of Taborian Hall (fingers crossed for the 2021 application).
We have completed the Phase I project, funded by the 2017 grant, and are beginning the new construction for the 2019 Phase II project. With it's completion, we’ll be ADA compliant and the Dreamland Ballroom will truly be publicly accessible for the first time in its history.
Soon, the ballroom will be positioned to, once again, serve it’s community. In this unique venue, that is overflowing with character, we dream of hosting public and private events of all kinds. We want to partner with local organizations and individuals to better interpret and showcase the ballroom’s rich history. We want it to be a safe place, a bridge for diversity in arts and culture. By achieving this first dream, all the other dreams can be made possible ...
Keep Dreaming,
Matthew McCoy
Dream#2
A Grand Opening!
“How dull it is to pause, to make an end, To rust unburnish'd, not to shine in use!” ~excerpt from Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson.
2021 will mark a monumental moment in the history of the Dreamland Ballroom. For the first time in its 102-year history, it will be completely handicap accessible, making the ballroom usable as public event space, by modern codes and standards.
The origins of this amazing building and its 3rd floor ballroom are filled will stories of success and grandeur--the inspiring juxtaposition of colossal achievement within strained conditions. It is this that makes the downfall of the business district on 9th St. so sad and even infuriating.
Finally, we have the chance to set things right and bring back the historic grandeur alongside our modern standards. Our focus is on making Dreamland a space for our community to listen to great music, throw a party, learn important and relevant history, and live and grow in unity.
But first we will need to open! Or re-open, truthfully. Assuming everything goes according to plan, the re-opening will happen fall of 2021; ideally, lining up with our annual fundraiser, Dancing into Dreamland.
Here’s where YOU come in!
There so much to do before then! While the construction projects will help prepare the ballroom for public accessibility and safety, there are smaller projects that we could use YOUR help on! Over the next year, we will schedule volunteer workdays to paint floors, restring old/new lights, decorate, and more. Help us give the ballroom a face lift! Have any old furniture or pieces that you would like to get rid of that would look great in the ballroom? Donate them to the Friends of Dreamland and we could use them to decorate the box seats, balcony, green rooms, and stage left/right wings.
Keep in touch with us by signing up for our email list (check the "Dreamland Ballroom" box) or follow us on Facebook and Instagram to learn when these workdays will be scheduled and to check in with these campaigns.
Keep Dreaming,
Matthew McCoy
Dream#3
Strategic Planning.
Since the funding of the Dreamland Ballroom Public Access Project by the National Parks Service in 2018, one question has repeatedly crept into my mind: what role will the nonprofit play in the future of the ballroom? For over 10 years now, the primary objective for our little organization has been public accessibility. This prodigious task was the primary reason for the founding of the Friends of Dreamland (FOD) nonprofit. So … now what?
Restoration will always be a big part of what the Friends of Dreamland do. When the current construction is complete, the Dreamland Ballroom will be capable of hosting any number of public and private events. This will greatly release the burden on the nonprofit to support maintenance and restoration of the historic space. Not entirely, of course, but it will free up donated funds for other opportunities. The publicly accessible space will also create new fundraising prospects for FOD.
The nonprofit was opened with a second capacity in mind: a museum. Since then, Mosaic Templars African American Cultural Center has been doing a terrific job of satisfying our communities need for a local cultural museum. I think that leaves FOD to fulfill a more interpretive approach to the telling of the 9th St Corridor’s cultural heritage.
There is a lot we need to do before this can happen. Fundraising, board, and programs development, and more. There is a lot of unique history to 9th Street and the Dreamland Ballroom that can be shared in a fun and informative way. And while this history is unique to Little Rock, the bigger themes are consistent with a critical period in American history; important stories that are under-told and extremely relevant today.
How can you help? Sign up for our email list (check the “Dreamland Ballroom” box), follow us on social media, or contact me. These projects require ideas and working hands and hearts, as much as dollars. Please reach out to me if you have any Dreams for Dreamland you would like to see incorporated into our work. Interested in sitting on our board? We are always looking for new perspectives and experiences in our organization’s leadership. We will need them to move forward with our Dreams.
So, I guess I should not be questioning what our role will be but how our role will change. What is most important to me and the board of directors is the Dreamland Ballroom, its preservation, and its legacy. Sharing good, old stories worth telling, gathering to share in great music and incredible culture, learning from our divisive past, and using everything at our disposal to move forward united. So, let’s get to work!
Keep Dreaming,
Matthew McCoy
Tours begin again! We are excited to share the history of Taborian Hall and the Dreamland Ballroom beginning in February 2021.
Since the start of the pandemic, we have been unable to host our monthly tours of the Taborian Hall and Dreamland Ballroom. While we routinely post interesting history on Facebook and there is always information posted on the State Street side of the building, we miss sharing the rich heritage of this place in person.
Over the first half of 2021, Taborian Hall and the ballroom will be partially under construction, but neither that nor this pandemic will keep the Friends of Dreamland from advocating for the history of this space.
Also, in February, these regular emails will shift focus. We will move from ‘Dreams’ to facts about the former tenants and visitors of the Ballroom for Black History Month. We want to provide you more information on Taborian Hall, Dreamland Ballroom, and the 9th Street Corridor however we can.
If you do not already follow us on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, now is the time to start. During this time of social distancing and restricted capacity, these platforms are our most effective tools for sharing Dreamland’s stories.
Keep Dreaming,
Matthew McCoy