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courtesy of KDHX
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As the much-anticipated opening of its new Grand Center music venue nears, KDHX is making a last-minute push to raise funds for the space, starting this week.
The radio station’s new home, named The Larry J. Weir Center For Independent Media after its late operations manager, will not only house administrative offices and broadcasting studios; it will also boast a 125-seat performance venue and coffee shop. But while The Stage at KDHX is slated to open in early October, the company still needs a bit more funding for it to be band-ready. That’s why the station has initiated its first ever Kickstarter, from July 10 to 26.
With Kickstarter, a crowd funding campaign for creative projects, backers can wage anything from $10 to $10,000 and they receive favors such as logo shirts and concert tickets from KDHX. The goal is to raise $50,000, said Caron House, development director, which would cover equipment costs for the new facility.
Once it’s finished, House said KDHX hopes to bring in an eclectic mix of musicians like it’s known for playing on its public broadcast. Each year, the station hosts about 200 artists doing live performances, but before now, has had no real public space to accommodate them at its current Magnolia Avenue studios.
“We’re really excited to be able to interact with our audience as an art destination,” House said. “Now, we can invite them in for a unique listening experience.”
Housed in the Grand Center arts district at 3524 Washington, steps from Fox Theatre (527 N. Grand), Jazz St. Louis (3547 Olive), The Sheldon Concert Hall (3648 Washington) and the Saint Louis Symphony (718 N. Grand), the unfinished venue will serve as a space for bands who otherwise couldn’t pay the price at the door, House said. KDHX, sticking to its efforts to foster rising musicians and independent artists, will cover those costs, which not many venues do.
To learn more about the new Larry J. Weir Center for Independent Media, visit forkdhx.org.
