Arena Players gets $5.2M in funding for theater renovation project

The oldest continuously operating African American community theater in the country has received $5.2 million in state and federal funding to upgrade its aging building. Arena Players Inc., located at 801 McCulloh St. in Baltimore, will use the funds to upgrade its building, which the theater has used since 1962 and bought in 1969, according to its website. U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin along with Congressman Kweisi Mfume helped secure the $4 million in federal funding as part of the recent omnibus funding legislation. The theater was also allocated $1.2 million for the project through the state’s fiscal year 2023 capital budget last year.