Clear Space supporters and elected officials gathered on Sunday, February 22 for a brunch at The Bellmoor Inn & Spa to hear an update from the leadership of Clear Space Theatre Company’s capital campaign committee — Rick Perry (chair), Chris Beagle (vice chair), and Joe Gfaller (CSTC Managing Director) — on CSTC’s early progress and upcoming process on building and fundraising plans for its capital campaign to build a new performing arts center as part of a public-private partnership with the City of Rehoboth Beach.

Progress shared included details on various professional experts who have been hired to support this work, including Turner Townsend, engaged to sequence timelines for pre-project planning of the building, Focus Fundraising, engaged to develop our case statement for support for the fundraising campaign, and a land use attorney. In addition, CSTC shared that Commissioner Susan Stewart had been selected to serve as our liaison from the city as part of the development of the final partnership agreement for the development of 11 Christian Street.

This work is the beginning of a multi-year process, one that is being intentionally crafted and includes several phases. The next steps in this planning phase include completing bids for a geo-technical study to ascertain a full analysis of the soil conditions at 11 Christian Street (to be completed by the end of March), followed by an request for qualifications process to begin to select an architect for the project, followed by an RFP process for those firms selected for further consideration. Architect selection is targeted for the end of the summer of 2026. In tandem with this work, the case statement for support will be developed in the months ahead. That case statement will be refined through a series of one-on-one interviews and focus groups led by Focus Fundraising.

CSTC is also establishing Leadership & Advisory Councils to help guide the planning of the campaign. Those interested in learning more about these volunteer roles or in supporting the campaign in other ways during its early phases are welcome to fill out the interest form on our website.