The Overtown Performing Arts Center (OPAC) is in the heart of historic Overtown. The 9,500-square-foot facility serves as the ideal event space for banquets, concerts, community events, and other social and recreational activities. In addition, the venue houses a state-of-the-art culinary/catering kitchen and meeting spaces.
The OPAC is the perfect setting for your next event, from small gatherings to elaborate productions. This versatile event space is adaptable to your needs and can accommodate groups from 25 to 150 in theater-style seating & up to 110 persons in banquets, classrooms, or corporate meetings. The main hall is also fronted by an elevated stage that can be utilized for intimate performances and boasts concert-quality lights, sound, and video.
We welcome you to visit, tour our space and speak with us about your desire to plan your special event. Our professional, experienced staff is happy to assist you and is committed to ensuring a memorable experience for you and your guest.
Our History
The Overtown Performing Arts Center is owned and operated by the Southeast Overtown/ Park West Community Redevelopment Agency (SEOPW CRA). Originally built in 1947, the building was formerly known as the Ebenezer Methodist Church which, housed one of the oldest congregations in Overtown.
Designated by the City of Miami as a historic monument for its traditional Gothic style architecture, it underwent a$3million renovation funded by the SEOPWCRA. The unique exterior design and architecturally-detailed windows and high ceilings remains today. The SEOPW CRA also received a $900,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration to help underwrite the cost of renovations.
Our Neighborhood
Uniquely situated in the heart of a burgeoning world-class city, Overtown is a great place to eat, live, work, and play. With museums, galleries, and historic churches, the jewel that is Overtown is bolstered by its central location to Downtown Miami, the Brickell Financial District, Wynwood, and Midtown Miami. This historic neighborhood also features unparalleled proximity to Miami International Airport, the University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Hospital, various colleges and educational facilities, and major attractions such as the Museum Park (Perez Art Museum and Museum of Science), the American Airlines Arena and the Adrienne Arsht Center for Performing Arts.
Additionally, Overtown is conveniently located near most of Miami-Dade County’s major roadway arteries, providing drivers easy access to Interstate 95, I-395, and the Port of Miami. Other forms of public transportation by trolley and Metrorail are also easily accessible. One of the significant thematic draws of Overtown is its history. Back in its heyday, this African-American community was the mecca for nightly entertainment, with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Josephine Baker, Billie Holiday, and Nat King Cole performing regularly.