UTICA - The Central New York Community Arts Council announced a new name today as it prepares to usher in a new era for the Stanley Theatre.

The arts organization will now be officially referred to as the Stanley Center for the Arts. Representatives from the council were on hand for the announcement this morning, taking part in the official dedication of the newly refurbished Stanley marquee to the Utica National Insurance Group.

The executive director, Ron Thiele, hopes that the Stanley Center for the Arts will be a driving force in creating an ever-growing environment for the arts in Central New York.

"Under that umbrella, we will continue to operate the Stanley Theatre operate as an arts council, and operate are arts and education institute with our centers of excellence and in a format somewhat similar to Lincoln Center or some of the other major centers for the around the country," Thiele said.

Thiele adds that renovations to the Stanley should end soon and it will be open for its April third performance of Romeo and Juliet.

He says the next step in the renovations is the installation of the new chandelier which should be happening in the next week or so.