The Overture Development Corp. announced Tuesday that the first phase of the Overture Project, Madison’s downtown arts center project, would be ready to open Sept. 18, 2004.

“Opening the facility in September could allow it to be fully booked for a variety of kick-off seasons and shows and bypass Madison’s summer-break conflicts,” George Austin, president of the Overture Development Corp., said in a statement.

A 2,250-seat Overture Hall, three community performance spaces and a Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters Gallery are scheduled to be completed by the September target date.

“We all look forward to a grand opening that will bring as many people as possible into what we hope will become one of Madison’s most treasured civic buildings,” Austin said.

In the coming weeks, the Madison Cultural Arts District Board is planning to appoint subcommittees to help plan the opening festivities. LaMarr Billups was appointed vice chair of the board.

The project’s construction cost has been estimated at over $100 million. The Overture Development Corp., which is a non-profit organization, may have to borrow up to $115 million to construct the project. A $10 million gift by Madison businessman W. Jerome Frautschi is also funding the project.