August Wilson's childhood home reopens as arts and community centre
The 6,000-square-foot facility in Pittsburgh was restored through a $5 million fundraising effort led by Denzel Washington.
The childhood home of playwright August Wilson has reopened in Pittsburgh's Hill District as a 6,000-square-foot arts and community centre. The property, which had fallen into disrepair, was restored following a $5 million fundraising initiative launched in September 2018, according to a Times of India report citing Architectural Digest.
Hollywood actor Denzel Washington led the fundraising campaign to support the restoration of the building where Wilson lived from 1945 to 1958. Other contributors included Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, who each contributed $1 million, alongside Shonda Rhimes, Spike Lee, and Samuel L. Jackson.
The building received Pittsburgh historic landmark status in 2008 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. Wilson's nephew, Paul Ellis, purchased the property before the playwright's death in 2005 and established the nonprofit Daisy Wilson Artist Community with architect Rob Pfaffmann to oversee the restoration.
The complex includes the original 1840s house, an 1880s upstairs expansion, and a contemporary addition featuring elevators. The facility contains four studios for workshops and programmes, two indoor galleries, a rooftop terrace, a landscaped garden, and an outdoor theatre.
The restored upstairs apartment includes the living room, kitchen, and bedrooms where Wilson grew up. The August Wilson House reopened in August 2022 after the project faced delays caused by the pandemic.
