As school comes to a close, come up for a visit and see the auditorium, it is all gone!  The seats are out, the theater lights are gone, the curtains are down, the lofts are empty and the control booth and sound clouds are dropping fast.  What a great job the students have done clearing out for the upcoming Houlton Community Arts Center renovations.  In just four days, all four lofts filled with costumes, props, sets, scenery and music were emptied and stored in the small gym and a trailer.  There is still some work to do as we have to empty out the three offices and move some instruments to storage, but the majority of the demolition work is complete.

Phase one of the Houlton Community Arts Center is a full renovation of the auditorium including adding a balcony,  new seats, new theater lighting, moving the control booth, expanding the stage,  and upgrading the sound system.  This monumental change is possible because of the funding provided by the Houlton Community Arts Center Council.  There will also be changes in the hallway outside the auditorium and the entry to the cafeteria.  The partnership that HCACC developed with MSAD #29 afforded both entities the opportunity to make major changes on behalf of the school and the community.  This phase of the project is hopefully the start of bigger and better things to come.  With changes to the auditorium complete by November, the next phase will be to raise enough funds for an addition of 13,000 square feet of classrooms, rehearsal areas, and storage.
When school starts up in late August, the challenge that the music department will face is that the auditorium will not be finished.  With all the major structure work that has to happen, we hope to have the auditorium ready for the fall musical in late November.
Losing access to the auditorium for a few months will also be a challenge to the music programs.   Currently the auditorium is used everyday for rehearsals, instrument storage and it also contains Mr. Mania’s office.  With the changes planned, we lose the office on stage, storage on the wings of the stage, and the loft storage above the wings.  Although the end result will be a state-of-the-art auditorium, this will also force the music department to work in closer quarters than we currently do.  Rehearsals for our groups and for the musical will all need to fit into one room.  What a challenge!  With less access to the auditorium and the loss of storage and a teaching space, it will bring to the fore front the need to quickly move ahead with phase two of the project.
Phase two includes a new band room, separate chorus room, bringing the art room to this end of the school, new offices and new practice rooms.  We know we need this new space.   We are excited phase one has started and are looking into the not-so-distant future for phase two.  Look for updates on the HCAC website www.houltonarts.org.

The Houlton Community Arts Center Council is happy to receive $1,000 from the Bangor Savings Bank Community Matters More program.  Although we were not considered for the top prize, we were glad to be recognized for being a leader in change for the community.  Thank you Bangor Savings Bank!

Dead River Company to make a $10,000 donation.

Dead River Company announced that it will be donating $10,000 in support of the Houlton Community Arts Center project to expand and renovate the existing music facilities of Houlton High School in order to establish a performing and visual arts facility that will better serve the needs of the students and the residents of the Southern Aroostook area.

“Dead River Company is very pleased to make a donation that will keep on giving,” stated Jerry Wilson, Dead River Company, Houlton District Manager. “As a life-long resident of Houlton, I know how vital the arts and music are to the community. By donating to the Houlton Community Arts Center, Dead River Company is helping to make a lifetime investment in our students and our community.

About Dead River Company
Organized in 1909, in Bangor, Maine, Dead River Company is still owned by the descendents of the company founder, Charles Hutchins. With more than 1100 employees, Dead River Company is the largest distributor of residential heating fuels (propane, home heating oil, and kerosene) in northern New England and operates a chain of convenience stores in Maine. The company’s Dead River Properties division is actively engaged in commercial real estate, developing, owning and managing a large portfolio of properties that includes office buildings, industrial buildings and shopping centers in states from Maine to Florida. www.deadriver.com

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.

 Houlton Community Arts Center Capital Campaign
Receives $2,500 from Bangor Savings Bank Foundation

The Houlton Community Arts Center Council has been working diligently on grant writing and received good news from the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation, as they have made a $2,500 contribution to the fine arts wing expansion project being planned at Houlton High School.

“We are happy to have the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation become a contributor to our project “, explained Joe Fagnant, president of the Houlton Community Arts Center. ”We have been working on various grants and it is wonderful to know that this foundation with local branch connections, chose us as one of their recipients.  Not every project receives consideration, and we are pleased to have been considered. ”
“Bangor Savings Bank is focused on strengthening Maine’s communities and culture by supporting causes similar to Houlton Community Arts Center statewide.  We are proud our investment of $2,500 is helping this institution reach new heights, ” Yellow Light Breen, SVP and Chief Strategy Officer, Bangor Savings Bank.

The Community Arts Center is going to provide an expanded selection of arts-related programs and services for the area. The expansion will include 13,000 of new space for separate band, chorus, theatre and dance rehearsals, as well as increased storage space and a larger stage to accommodate performance and exhibits. Approximately $750,000 has been raised.

The Houlton Community Arts Center Council and fundraising committee is working over the next several months to raise $2.5 million in private funds to match a 2007 November bond referendum of another $2.5 million in public funds. More information about this 501C3 organization and campaign can be received by calling 1-888-422-1278 (1-888-HCA-1ART) or going to www.houltonarts.org.

 

By Jennifer Ruth
Staff Writer for Houlton Pioneer Times
HOULTON — The Houlton Community Arts Center’s fund-raising efforts remain strong throughout the community and Houlton’s Key Bank in Market Square has joined the long list of people and businesses working with the organization to bring a better arts center into the community.
Key Bank Branch Manager and Assistant Vice President Robert Faulkner presented members of the Houlton Community Arts Center with a check to kick off the bank’s donation.
“We are pleased to have Key Bank become one of our sponsors in our efforts to raise funds for our project,” said Joe Fagnant, president of the Houlton Community Arts Center. “This is a great example of a large bank supporting a project on a local community level. The Community Arts Center board appreciates the efforts of the Houlton branch and the Key Bank employees that were instrumental in making this donation happen.”
Faulkner moved efforts along by requesting the support from the bank officials and he said they showed a keen interest in wanting to support the center.
“It’s such a worthy cause and we need to dig deep, even in tough times because it’s going to be a huge boost for the area,” explained Faulkner. “I was the one who put in the request and I got strong support with it. We’re donating $15,000 total — with a pledge of $5,000 over the next three years.
“It’s a definitely a step in the right direction,” he said.
The Community Arts Center will provide an expanded selection of arts-related programs and services for the area. The expansion will include 13,000 of new space for separate band, chorus, theatre and dance rehearsals, as well as increased storage space and a larger stage to accommodate performance and exhibits. Approximately $750,000 has been raised over the past year.
The Houlton Community Arts Center Council and fundraising committee has planned an aggressive fundraising campaign for the next several months. This 501C3 organization is seeking to raise $2.5 million in private funds to match the 2007 November bond referendum. More information about the campaign can be received by calling Joe Fagnant at 694-3041 or going to www.houltonarts.org.

Houlton Community Arts Center Capital Campaign

Receives $10,000 from Houlton Savings Bank of Maine

The Houlton Community Arts Center received a welcome financial boost from the Houlton Savings Bank of Maine of a $10,000 donation to the fine arts wing expansion project being planned for Houlton High School. 

In an official statement: Houlton Savings Bank of Maine is pleased to be a sponsor of the Houlton Community Arts Center project.  Our corporate giving goal is intended to make a positive impact on the needs in our communities.  At the Savings Bank of Maine, we believe that being a good neighbor and giving back to our communities serve as benchmarks to our success.  By providing this sponsorship we are committing to the growth of a community-based project that will positively impact the lives of many of our area youth. 

Al Butler, Senior Vice President,  ” As a lifelong resident of Houlton, I am very proud of our school district’s well-known and widely respected music and arts program.  It is very exciting to see our community come together to support a performing arts center that will benefit that program and provide a venue to host other performing events.”

Dean Clark, Vice President  ” SAD #29 is a vital partner within our community, we are very pleased to be a part of this project as it will positively impact the lives of many for years to come.”

 ”We have had many individuals working towards this project and to have Houlton Savings Bank of Maine come on board at this time of our fundraising efforts is a nice positive lift to our campaign, “said Joe Fagnant, president of HCACC.  “Local support is building and we appreciate the efforts of Houlton Savings Bank of Maine as they take a leadership role in supporting the community.”  Funds raised through the Houlton Community Arts Center capital campaign will allow for a renovation of current arts space at Houlton High School and the addition of 13,000 sq. feet of new construction as a visual and performing arts center.

The Center will allow for an expanded selection of arts-related programs and services for the community, separate band, chorus, theatre and dance space, increased storage space, and a larger stage to accommodate performances and exhibits.

The Houlton Community Arts Center Council, is a 501C3 organization that is seeking to raise $2.5 million in private funds to match the recent bond referendum that was supported by voters of MSAD #29. 

Our efforts in grant writing have begun to pay off as our contracted grant writer, Sue Glick, wrapped up some important work that lead to HCACC receiving a $20,000 grant from the Davis Family Foundation of Falmouth, Maine. The foundation supports education, medical and cultural/arts organizations located primarily in Maine. The Houlton Community Arts Center was able to focus on the education and arts portion of the application process.

“Sue did a wonderful job with highlighting our project and we were able to complete their requirements in a timely fashion” stated HCACC President, Joe Fagnant. There are several other granting networks that HCACC is currently working on and more information will be posted.