Stroede Center for the Arts
Welcome to the Stroede Center for the Arts. We have many scheduled performances and events to delight and entertain you. The Stroede Center features the "Sunday at the Center" performances along with many other performances and presentations during the year. We also have many other services available to the community.
The performances and presentations are brought to you by the Defiance Community Cultural Council (DCCC), a non-profit volunteer organization, dedicated to the promotion of the performing arts, communication, and historic preservation.
DCCC is dedicated to assisting Defiance area arts organizations in promotion and development. Through its contact with arts organizations, it assists in the planning of an annual arts calendar and the coordination of events. As part of its mission, DCCC cultivates performing arts events that can result in programming for DCTV.
Defiance Community Television
Defiance Community Television offices are located in the Stroede Center. DCTV is a public access TV channel providing public, educational, and government programs for the community of Defiance, Ohio. It is managed by the Defiance Community Cultural Council.
History of the Stroede Center for the Arts
The Stroede Center for the Arts, administered by the Defiance Community Cultural Council (DCCC) and home to DCTV, was originally the First Baptist Church. This congregation was organized in 1846 and began this building in 1894 with then-Governor William McKinley present at its cornerstone-laying. It is notable for its Romanesque style, still intact stained glass windows, and impressive vaulted ceiling.
The Baptist congregation dedicated its new church at 1399 Jefferson in 1980. After that the old church building was occupied by several other congregations and was later acquired by the city of Defiance. In 2007, the late Dr. Richard Stroede stepped in to develop an agreement with the city for a new use for the structure. The new DCCC would eventually take over the building, using it as a cultural center and home for the local public access channel. Numerous renovations have taken place to make the structure more appropriate for its present purposes.
After being nominated by Historic Homes of Defiance in 2010, Dr. Stroede was awarded the title of "Preservation Hero" by Heritage Ohio, an organization associated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This award focused interest on the Arts & Media Center (former name of the building) since it had been saved from possible demolition through Stroede's efforts. Stroede is also credited with moving and reconditioning a small organ which once was at Defiance College.
The Arts & Media Center was renamed the Stroede Center for the Arts on September 11, 2011, in honor of Dr. Richard Stroede. It has become an important hub for community arts and cultural events. In addition to a classical chamber series, "Sunday at the Center," the Stroede Center has hosted children's theater, lectures organized by the city historian's office, piano recitals, and other events. Local artists exhibit their work on the walls of the vestibule of the building. The DCCC board is considering ideas for additional use of the building, such as a local artists' series, poetry readings, or showcases of high-school age talent.