NATCHEZ — Natchez Festival of Music’s organizers have relocated the festival’s first event scheduled at the Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center because of multiple repairs needed to the center.

Natchez City Planner Bob Nix said problems with the center’s stage, curtain rigging system and roof structure supporting the rigging were recently discovered.

Nix said an elevated addition and an extension added to the center’s original stage 10 or 12 yeas ago has been removed because the wood had gotten soft. He said the original stage is in excellent shape.

The wall that was built along with the elevated stage addition to create an orchestra section, Nix said, was cut shorter after the addition was removed. He said he believes the shorter wall is more aesthetic and increases stage visibility from the front row of the audience.

The curtain-rigging system, Nix said, had previously been raised to accommodate the elevated stage. Nix said safety issues with the curtain rigging were discovered while repairing the stage.

The Natchez Festival of Music Guild, Nix said, hired a professional rigger to inspect the rigging.

“He said no one should be performing on that stage because it is dangerous,” Nix said.

A structural engineer, Nix said, found that the beams supporting the curtain rigging system also need repair.

Nix said the total costs of the repairs are unknown right now because complete estimates have not yet been done.

The repairs will be funded, Nix said, by the $176,000 grant awarded to the city by from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. The grant amount was given based on a 20-percent match of $44,000 contributed by the city and the music festival.

The $220,000 will be used for part of a large scope of repairs and renovations at the center. Nix has said the center is in need of approximately $500,000 in repairs.

The problems with the stage, rigging and rigging roof support were not initially identified for repair. Nix said even though the timing of the repairs has caused music festival organizers to relocate an event, he said the situation has a silver lining.

“It’s actually good all this is happening, because we have been able to identify these problems now and get them repaired to ensure the safety of the performers,” Nix said.

Mary Lessley, chairman of the Natchez Festival of Music board, said the festival opted to relocate the festival’s “Swingin’ Blues” event on May 5 featuring the University of North Texas’ One O’Clock Lab Band because of the repairs needed to the center.

The event will be at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church.

Lessley said festival organizers are confident the repairs at the Margaret Martin will be finished quickly, but she said organizers do have another venue lined up for the next event scheduled at the center on May 12 if the repairs are not finished.

Tickets for “Swingin’ Blues” can be purchased at the door for $20 general admission or $10 for students. Advance tickets can be purchased at natchezfestivalofmusic.com or natchezpilgrimage.com or by calling 601-445-2210.