Capital Campaign Donations

Regular visitors to the Arts Center have seen us work through some of our most pressing concerns for the long-term viability of our space. Major projects have included the installation of our new roof, and the stripping and sealing of the painted brickwork on the old part of our structure. Alongside those major projects, we’ve done a lot of interior refreshing with new paint in our downstairs classrooms and mezzanine galleries. All of this has been positive and much-needed task to both preserve the building for the future and improve the aesthetics of our most-used spaces.

However, there are a number of other big projects we’d like to undertake, and all of them are expensive. Therefore, we ask for community support. Here’s where your help may come into play. Think about what you’d like to see happen in our lovely center and whether an earmarked gift to our capital campaign is something you can imagine doing. Here is a list of big-ticket projects we’d like to undertake and our best-guess estimation of what we would need to accomplish our goals.

• A lift and associated ramps to allow mobility-challenged visitors to move safely and comfortably from the entry level to the mezzanine and to our downstairs classroom spaces. We are aiming for a goal of ADA compliance. Estimated cost – $245,000.
• Renovation of our social hall to improve its ambience and lighting, and provide for accessible bathrooms. This item is also in pursuit of our ADA dreams. Estimated cost – $185,000.
• Replacement of our HVAC system to provide adequate cooling in the summer and warmth in the winter, in an ecologically friendly fashion. Those of you who have attended summer concerts will know that we are challenged in keeping our concert hall comfortable on warm sunny summer days. Our antiquated, and only partially operational air conditioners, are simply not up to the task. Replacement of the existing units with efficient and effective air exchange heat pumps would allow us to improve air quality. Estimated cost – $64,000.
• Theater-quality lighting for our performance space. Estimated cost – $17,000.
• Modernization of our kitchen so that we can offer meals and food-related workshops in a commercial-compliant space. (upgraded plumbing, new countertops, new cabinetry). Estimated cost – $190,000.
• Security systems providing better control of access to our facilities and a way to monitor space utilization remotely. Estimated cost – $16,000.
• Undesignated: Bear in mind that while we want to fund these earmarked projects, unrestricted gifts are ALWAYS appreciated and allow us to utilize funds where they are most needed.

If you wish to make a donation to our Capital Campaign, either unrestricted or earmarked toward one of these projects, don’t forget to indicate that on your check, or if contributing by credit card, with the link below, in a separate email to John Kearns. Please note how wish your gift to be applied.

Contributions made by Qualified Charitable Deduction (for those in the over 70 ½ crowd) provide an opportunity to designate how the gift is to be utilized. Please make sure to designate that the donation is for the Capital Campaign.

All donations with this link ONLY apply to our Capital Campaign.