There was a recent article in the September 17, 2007 edition of the Bangor Daily News about a $100,000 donation to the Houlton Community Arts Center project from FAPeabody company and you can find the full article here.

http://www.bangornews.com/news/t/aroostook.aspx?articleid=154329&zoneid=175

Houlton Community Arts Center Wraps Up Summer Activities

The Houlton Community Arts Center Council and fundraising committee members have been hard at work this summer continuing their efforts to organize and raise funds for the fine arts wing expansion project of Houlton High School. Several key meetings have taken place with fundraising consultant BHC Consulting Group from Bangor. The organizational meetings have lead up to members working on the asking of major donors over the course of the summer. The process has gone well and the committee is reporting strong successes with contacting individuals and businesses.

Many hours have also been spent this summer working with the MSAD #29 School Board and superintendent Steve Fitzpatrick on organizing the upcoming November referendum that will positively impact a major renovation goal and also the expansion project. HCACC president Joe Fagnant met with Mr. Fitzpatrick, school board members, school legal council and other HCAC members to discuss how the referendum process will be organized and what the language will look like for the referendum. The main body of the referendum will support a $2.5 million renovation portion to complete HHS projects and a $2.5 million portion to go to the expansion project, to be matched by $2.5 million in private funds currently being raised.

HCAC fundraising committee members Steve Nelson and Torrey Sylvester, along with superintendent Fitzpatrick, presented the project and bond information at town meetings in Littleton, Monticello and Houlton. Arrangements are currently being made to meet with the Hammond board. A key area of the presentation was how the bond money will support immediate changes at HHS while being paid off over twenty years with money that is already built into the current budget system. There were great questions that came about from the different panel discussions and the presenters felt that the individual town councils were interested in the process and progress of the project.

Fundraising committee chairs Fred Grant, Dave McGillicuddy and Liz Anderson were active in kicking off the donation seeking process and organizing various public events including information booths set up at different venues through out the summer. Ann Joy assisted in staffing the information booths, where board members and volunteers greeted visitors with explanations of floor plans, handed out information pamphlets and gave out wristbands with the “Artstrong” motto and the HCAC web site: houltonarts.org.

Upcoming events include a full HCACC board meeting on August 29^th, ongoing fundraising committee meetings and public information meetings. The HCACC will assist the school board with educating the public at two meetings: September 6^th and October 18^th held at Houlton High school from 5-8pm.

A lot of organization, planning and activities have taken place this summer. Great things are coming together for this much needed project and more details will be forthcoming from the Houlton Community Arts Center Council.

The Greater Houlton area is strong in the arts and has been for many generations. Since the arts play such a crucial role in our area’s identity we thought there should be a way for community members to show their support of our continuing arts tradition. Don’t have your wristband yet? Pick one up at one of the events listed in our calendar and wear it with pride!

There has been a lot of great activity happening regarding the fine arts wing expansion project at Houlton High School and the Houlton Community Arts Center Council is beginning to share the great news with the community. The council and its volunteers invite everyone to come visit their information booth on July 3rd, at 7pm during the McGills Community Band Midnight Madness concert and also to the July 7th craft fair from 10am-4pm. Both events will take place in Monument Park. The booth will be staffed by volunteers that will be assisting in educating and making the public more aware about the project. There will be architectural plans for the building, pictures, pamphlets and other information available. The Houlton Community Arts Center Council and the community members invovled in the Fundraising Committee have been hard at work developing the project and moving it towards the next phase. Come visit the booth or go online to our expanding website, houltonarts.org, to see what has been happening with the project.

HCAC as an educational arts center
The entire community will benefit from greater space for youth and adult programming and significantly more opportunities for music, art, dance, theatre, lectures and seminars. HCAC will meet the cultural needs of a growing community and eliminate crowded educational space for high school and middle school students. Southern Aroostook residents will benefit from a modern, spacious facility that brings together choral and instrumental music, visual arts, dance, sculpture, and other arts.

HCAC as an economic development tool
The rapidly expanding creative sector is a significant factor in Maine’s economic development. From music to art, communities are enhanced through the establishment of greater creative arts opportunities. The Houlton Community Arts Center will be an economic stimulus in northern Maine, improving the quality of life for residents of Aroostook County. The center will assist in attracting a more mobile and educated workforce, promoting cultural tourism, and encouraging entrepreneurial activity.

HCAC as a proving ground for young student talent
This new innovative space will provide an arts wing that includes band and chorus space, a dance theatre, rehearsal space and a creative arts room. Students will have enhanced opportunities to develop and hone their creative arts abilities in a supportive and nurturing environment.