The Houlton Community Arts Center project has a history that dates back to the inception of the project started by the MSAD #29 Music Boosters around the spring of 2002. The goal back then was to look into the possibility of expanding the Houlton High School music facilities due to the lack of space and safety concerns for the present area. The feeling of the music boosters was that there was a fabulous amount of dedicated students involved in the program, it was time to match the facilities with the caliber of music.

As the project began to develop, partnerships were made with the Houlton High School Alumni Association and financial support began to come in to get the project up and running. The MSAD #29 school board supported the preliminary investigation into looking at a $2-5 million project. As the project developed into a community entity, the naming of the project became clear, and the “Houlton Community Arts Center” was born. The advancing project then began to take shape as the Houlton Community Arts Center Council (HCACC) which became an official board, and is now a 501C3 organization charged with raising private funds for the project.

The HCACC along with the MSAD #29 school board, contracted with Design Group Collaborative, from Ellsworth Maine, to develop the project. Many meetings were held to discuss design, cost and what the community would want with the project. It was agreed at that time to support a $5 million expansion and renovation of the auditorium and music area of Houlton High School. The project would update several key public areas of the building, including entrances, parking, auditorium seating, acoustics, climate control and safety, and include a fire suppression system. The school would also have a 13,000 square foot addition that adds a band room, chorus room, theater/dance space, and an art room.

The MSAD #29 school board voted to support the project by providing $2.5 million from its proposed $5 million bond referendum. The goal of the school board is to have half of the bond money continue to renovate existing facilities and also provide half of the necessary funding for the HCAC. The school board has indicated that current budgeted money set aside for renovations would be put towards paying back the interest and principle of the bond. The goal is to not increase the budget or increase taxes. With this bond passing in November of 2007, work can begin on current renovation needs and also the Houlton Community Arts Center will be supported.

A private fundraising firm, BHC-Group was hired to work with the HCACC and its designated fundraising committee to raise $2.5 million. The work has been on going and the committee will be privately fundraising through the summer of 2008. Activities and public awareness education events will take place through the summer and into the fall. Official public forums to discuss the project and educate the public took place at Houlton High School on September 6th and October 18th. All of these events were to let the community know about the project and begin the support phase of the referendum.

The goal of the project is to have a ground breaking take place in May of 2009. There is a lot of work to be done leading up to that phase, please keep checking out our web pages for future information.

History of the MSAD #29 Music Boosters and their involvement with the Houlton Community Arts Center expansion project
The MSAD #29 Music Boosters is a 7-12 parent organization whose primary objective is to support all functions of the entire music programs for students of MSAD #29. Many years of parent involvement has lead to raising funds for equipment, scholarships, cultural trips, and has provided students the opportunity to learn from “visiting artists”. The boosters are very active in hosting state and regional music events, bringing thousands of students to Houlton High School to perform and compete in music festivals. They have successfully hosted a major state jazz festival for the past ten years, earning rave reviews from visitors for their work and organizational skills.
In 2002 the music boosters began discussing plans to expand the facilities at Houlton High School to better serve the overwhelming amount of students participating in fourteen ensembles. Through their discussions, planning, and financial support, the project moved forward with concept approval from the MSAD #29 school board in the spring of 2004. After establishing the project goals, there was a need for more community involvement as it became clear the project was heading into a major arts center for the entire community.
The Houlton Community Arts Center Council (HCACC), an incorporated 501(c)3 organization was formed, combining members of the music boosters with supporters from the community. The financial assistance from the music boosters continued to be the driving force in all aspects of start up costs including: fees for establishing the HCACC, promotional materials, preliminary design costs, and fees for grant writing.
If it was not for the success of the MSAD #29 Music Boosters over many years, the community would not have a vibrant music program nor the vision for the facility that will join all the arts under one building.

MSAD #29 Music Booster Contributions to the entire music program over the past eight years, 2000-2008

Auditorium curtains $15,000
Curtains for events held in gymnasium $3000
Musical equipment for band program $6000
Update to lighting system in Auditorium $5000
Visiting Artist Program $8000
Student participation fees for festivals $4000
Scholarships $10,000
Upright piano $4500
Update sound system for auditorium $11,250
Contributions towards beginning stages of
expansion project $5000
Support for several music trips for band and chorus students to New York and Boston. The group participated in competitions and also cultural events $102,000
TOTAL $172,750