The Houlton Community Arts Center has been selected by the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation to be part of a special $100,000 donation program towards non profit organizations through out the State of Maine. Currently HCAC will receive $1,000 for being part of this program, but we need your vote in order to receive $5,000. If HCAC receives the most votes in the northern region, they will jump from the guaranteed donation of a thousand dollars up to the five thousand dollar award. Visit any Bangor Savings Bank location or go to www.bangor.com/CommunityMattersMore.aspx to access the ballot from on line.

What better way to kick off the $5 million arts center renovation and addition, than by combining with MSAD #29 to begin phase one in June of 2009.  This phase one project is currently in the planning stages using the experience of Armstrong Engineering, a long time MSAD #29 consultant, and the expertise of Design Group Collaborative, the architects contracted by HCACC.  The goal of the first phase is to work together to finish the renovations that MSAD #29 had already planned for 2009.  By working together, we hope to have both entities save costs when it comes to planning, construction and workmanship.  MSAD #29 needed to work in the current auditorium and music room areas as this will be the last part of the building without the new HVAC, heating and efficient lighting systems.  The arts center council saw this as a great opportunity to begin the much needed renovation of the auditorium while construction was being planned in the cafeteria, auditorium and music area.  Why not go ahead and get one section of this large project completed by the fall of 2009?  This agreement between the school and HCACC is a winning situation for both sides.  There are still planning stages to complete before the ground breaking in May.  The ultimate goal is to move on with other aspects of the $5 million project after phase one is completed.

The Houlton Community Arts Center auditorium seat campaign kicked off with the help of the Houlton Rotary Club November auction.  Rotarians Mike and Deb Clark did a fabulous job setting up the seat campaign and with the hard work of auctioneers, around fifty seats were sold in a short amount of time.  If you purchased one of those seats, thank you for your support.  We still have many seats to sell and for a great value of $300 per single seat, $275 for two, and $250 for each seat purchased after a group of three or more, you can receive recognition for your donation on the seat and on a special wall plaque.

Check out this website for further information about our campaign including pledge cards and seat information cards.