The Village Theatre has closed and Art Park West is unoccupied in the wake of the Doudna Fine Arts Center opening.

While Doudna was being constructed, the two facilities were originally used by Eastern to service the Arts and Humanities department’s lack of space.

Students traveled to the Village Theatre, off 18th Street, and Art Park West, off Lincoln Avenue, as part of their semester regimen during that time. They also attended classes, productions and exhibits in the facilities for nearly seven years.

“Eastern’s leases on the two facilities are almost up; they will then be relinquished back to the owners,” said Mary Herrington-Perry, assistant vice president for academic affairs.

Owners Bob and Vicki Walker of the Village Theatre could not be reached for comment, but the Charleston Chamber of Commerce reported there is no word of a new business being placed in the space.

According to the Coles County Assessment Office, the owner of Art Park West is Thomas Gangas of Bravo Properties LLC in Oak Brook. Gangas could not be reached for comment.

There is no word on the development of Art Park West either, according to the Charleston Chamber of Commerce.

In comparison to the two facilities, Doudna has a 300-seat theatre and Dvorak Concert Hall, which seats 600, compared to Village Theatre, which seats 183 people.

Sculpture and other art classes also have a venue of their own instead of having to use the leased Art Park West.

Krystal Moya can be reached at 581-7942 or at ksmoya@eiu.edu.