Though there were concerns that programming at the Performing Arts Center (PAC) would be canceled due to the construction of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School (MVRHS) building project, which begins next summer, school officials said it could possibly go on, just scaled down.
The Island’s largest indoor auditorium, located at the high school, the PAC serves as the venue for many large events, including the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (AAFF). The festival, which traditionally takes place during a nine-day period in August, attracts thousands of visitors and high-profile Black celebrities to the Island every year. But due to planned construction of the renovation and addition project, the proposed dates of the festival haven’t been approved to take place at the PAC yet.
Scott Eaton, senior project manager for construction management firm W.T. Rich presented construction plans during a MVRHS Building committee meeting Tuesday evening. After consulting with Oak Bluffs Building Commissioner Adam Petkus, Eaton said that the PAC could accommodate the AAFF as long as the building’s entrances and exits remain mostly the same. The only change that will be made is the creation of a temporary exterior walkway that will go between the construction site and the PAC.
“The only way that it would work is if all of its egresses and entrances are exactly the way they are right now,” Eaton said. “We would not be able to impact any of that in order for them to utilize it for that festival in 2027.”
Eaton also said that the festival would have to wrap up by July 19 at the latest, so the construction crew can begin the selective demolition portion of the project before the start of next school year. MVAAFF co-founder Stephanie Tavares-Rance, who said the festival is the reason “August is August” on the Island, previously said she wanted to confirm the dates of July 30 to August 7. August is synonymous with the celebration of African American heritage and Black culture through books, films, music, and art. This past summer’s festival ran from August 7 to 15, but based on Eaton’s presentation, the dates would have to significantly change.
“This work needs to be done before the students come back for the fall semester. We may not have to have all the selected demolition done, but we have to have the wall up and any of the fire alarms and egresses … set up,” Eaton said.
Amy Houghton, MVRHS committee member, said that the committee would need more information from festival organizers about the event’s logistics before they can make a final decision.
“We would need to know how many people they’re expecting, what they are expecting to use in any other part of the overall campus, the timing … are there food trucks, are there tents,” Houghton said. “Quite frankly, I think it needs to be really scaled down for this year because we just don’t have the ability to have a grandiose plan on our campus. The priority needs to be the building.”
The building committee approved a motion to make a recommendation to the school committee to consider allowing the festival at the PAC as long as festival organizers present a plan that’s approved by the town and doesn’t interfere with the building project.
For next school year, 2027-2028, Eaton said that Petkus approved an occupancy limit of 49 people for the PAC. To possibly increase the maximum to 300 individuals, changes such as the addition of another set of double doors, would have to be made. The PAC will be closed to the public during the following school year.
Sam Hart, MVRHS director of operations, emphasized the impact of the occupancy limitations on the school.
“We would have a classroom, essentially, for that one year, and then have no use for the PAC at all the second year,” Hart said.
The building committee meets next on Dec. 1.
