NORWICH—The Chenango Arts Council (CAC) announces the award of a grant from the Community Foundation of South Central New York to revamp the entrance, lobby, and hallway in the former Norwich High School building that has housed the Council offices, the Martin W. Kappel Theater, and the Mariea Brown and Raymond Loft Galleries since 1983.

The current carpeting and paint in the entrance and lobby areas were installed nearly 25 years ago during an extensive renovation, and have lasted well beyond their service life. A hallway that runs from the lobby to the back of the building has never been brought out of its 1950s public school aesthetic, and all areas public facing spaces.

The scope of work includes new carpeting, stair treatments for the entranceways, and paint for lobby walls, entrance walls, and the hallway leading from the lobby to the back of the building where the galleries and backstage theater access are located. The Council plans to use the hallway as additional exhibit space to show the work of local artists. Additionally, one part of the lobby will be transformed into a pictorial tribute to the history of the building, the Council, the City of Norwich, and Chenango County.