SPRINGFIELD – The Bing Arts Center, the non-profit arts space, is closing its doors and putting its building up for sale, according to its Executive Director Brian Hale.

Hale issued the following statement on Jan. 30: “The past year has challenged all of us in many ways. Unsurprisingly, we haven’t been able to present programming since the Covid-19 shutdown last March. Initially we had hoped to present our 10th Anniversary Party in June with a resumption of events in fall ’20. Alas, it was not to be. Unfortunately the cessation of income was not matched by a corresponding end of facility costs. Our capacity to continue paying the bills is rapidly diminishing, leaving us with little choice but to sell the property.

“Speaking for myself as well as the board, I sincerely appreciate the interest and involvement over the years of so many dedicated community arts enthusiasts. We’ve worked very hard to present compelling and eclectic programs and events. Our goal from the day we purchased the property was to bring people together to share and enjoy cultural experiences. Now that being together is so fraught with worry, the effort is no longer tenable for us.”

Hale explained he had “guarded optimism” in 2020 the pandemic would relent enough later in the year for the arts center to re-open for its 10 anniversary, but that did not happen.

The center featured art shows, musical performances, art lessons, films and conducted the Bing Comic Con for seven years. Hale is proud of the fact that five Grammy-winning artists performed at the Bing and the center’s offerings drew people from Hampshire County and northern Connecticut.

He noted that if the center had enough money to continue paying for heat, electricity and plowing, it would not be closed. “We’d shut it down, mothball it,” Hale said.

The problem is the center has “marginally steady support” and does not have enough funds to continue as it is indefinitely.

The audience was also older, Hale said, which may be an issue moving forward with people potentially still reluctant to gather in groups.

One of the goals of the organization was to bring people together through art and culture – something that Hale said the pandemic doesn’t allow.

Hale is thinking of ways to re-invent the Bing organization into something that would still produce arts events in the future.

The Bing Arts Center was the former location of the Bing Theater, a neighborhood movie house that opened in 1951 and closed in 1999.  

Aldo Giella of Lessard Realty in Springfield is handling the sale.