H.J. Ricks Centre for the Arts

The H.J. Ricks Centre for the Arts is a historic performing arts venue and former movie theater located in downtown Greenfield, Indiana, United States. Housed in a beautifully restored 1946 Art Deco/Art Moderne style movie house, the center today serves as a cherished cultural anchor for Greenfield and the surrounding Hancock County region. It sits within Greenfield's National Register Historic District and forms a pivotal component of the city's growing Arts and Cultural District, roughly 20 miles east of Indianapolis. The venue offers a 390-seat auditorium equipped with state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems designed for live productions, along with a cinema-grade audio-visual setup for multimedia presentations. It is fully accessible, with recently renovated facilities that include upgraded restrooms and an elevator providing access to second-floor offices. The Ricks Centre operates primarily as a rentable performance venue, welcoming an eclectic mix of touring musicians, local theater companies, stand-up comedians, community and corporate meetings, film festivals, and other events. Notable programming has included musical acts such as Heywood Banks and stage productions from local theatre groups, including the musical "Mamma Mia". The center is operated by the Hancock County Visitors Bureau Board of Directors, which oversees its role as a hub for diverse cultural experiences in the heart of Hancock County. Whether serving local residents seeking quality entertainment, visitors looking for enriching cultural encounters, or promoters in search of a cutting-edge venue, the H.J. Ricks Centre for the Arts functions as both a community asset and a regional destination for the performing arts.

The H.J. Ricks Centre for the Arts occupies a building originally constructed in 1946 as a movie house in the Art Deco/Art Moderne style, located in downtown Greenfield, Indiana. For decades it served as a local cinema before eventually falling into disuse. In recent years the facility underwent a comprehensive restoration and rejuvenation, transforming the former movie theater into a modern live performance venue while preserving its historic architectural character. The restored center now features a 390-seat auditorium with state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems tailored for live productions, complemented by a cinema-grade audio-visual setup for multimedia displays. Accessibility improvements include upgraded restrooms and a new elevator serving the second-floor offices. The venue is situated within Greenfield's National Register Historic District and is a pivotal component of the city's burgeoning Arts and Cultural District, about 20 miles east of Indianapolis. Operated by the Hancock County Visitors Bureau Board of Directors, the Ricks Centre functions primarily as a rentable performance venue. Its stage has hosted an eclectic array of talent, including acclaimed musical acts such as Heywood Banks and stage productions from local theatre groups, including the musical "Mamma Mia". It has also played host to stand-up comedy, community and corporate meetings, film festivals, and many other events, establishing itself as a hub for diverse cultural experiences in Hancock County.

• 1946

  The building opens as an Art Deco/Art Moderne style movie house in downtown Greenfield, Indiana.

• The former movie house is restored and rejuvenated into a modern live performance venue.

• The venue begins operating under the Hancock County Visitors Bureau Board of Directors as a rentable performance space.

A restored historic Art Deco movie house repurposed as a rentable, fully accessible live performance venue and cultural hub in downtown Greenfield, Indiana.

• Live music concerts

• Theatrical productions

• Stand-up comedy shows

• Community and corporate meetings

• Film festivals

• Private event rentals

1. 1HOME | Ricks Centrerickscentre.com
2. 2H.J. Ricks Centre for the Arts - Wikidatawikidata.org