Houlton Community Arts Center enters next phase

    HOULTON, Maine — Plans for the second phase of expansion at the Houlton Community Arts Center are now in the fund-raising stages.
    Torrey Sylvester, president of the Houlton Community Arts Center Council, said his group is now actively trying to raise money for the $2 million second phase of construction, which would include a 13,000 square foot addition to be built behind the current stage area of the school.
“Phase Two pushes out to the west (of the high school), and would be more classroom and rehearsal space,” Sylvester said.
“The Houlton Community Arts Center Council continues to raise funds for Phase Two, which is an expansion of the visual and performing arts space that will allow for complete housing of music, theater, dance, and art under one area of Houlton High School for all to use and enjoy,” said Joe Fagnant, musical director for SAD 29.
Included in the second phase are plans for new band and chorus rooms, an art classroom, dance/theatre room, and several offices and smaller practice rooms.
Bangor Savings Bank recently donated $10,000 for the second phase of the renovation project and Sylvester hopes this donation is the first of many to come.
“This grant signifies our commitment to improving the quality of life in the communities we serve,” said Christine Nickerson, vice president and northern regional market manager for the bank. “This grant will help fund the construction of the HCAC to meet the needs of the southern Aroostook County’s community arts organizations for performing arts.”
The idea for creating a “community” center came about 10 years ago, when the SAD 29 Music Boosters decided additional space was needed at the high school to better serve the students in the program. The SAD 29 school board supported the preliminary concept. A committee was formed to investigate what improvements could be made to the high school, and how those improvements could be funded, as well as how such a facility could be opened for public use.
In November 2007, voters approved a $2.5 million bond referendum. That bond called for the HCAC to raise a matching $2.5 million. Once those funds were raised, an additional $2.5 million was to be put to voters for the second phase of the project.
The first phase of the HCAC project, which included gutting and renovating the school auditorium to include new seats, balcony, stage, lighting and sound room, as well as creating a new entrance at the rear of the building, began in June 2009 and was completed in November 2009.
“Phase I is done, paid for and is beautiful” Sylvester said. “A lot of local merchants and individuals were extremely generous in seeing that phase to fruition.”
The facility now features 600 flexible seating capacity including balcony, box seats, and a combination of fixed/removable/loose seating; a large stage area with multiple curtain settings to customize staging needs; control booth with lighting and sound controls; and a large entrance area with ticket kiosk and cafeteria area for vending needs.
“Phase Two is critical for the facility to accommodate use by the community and outside arts groups,” Sylvester said. “It will free up the stage for bookings, plus provide spaces for community and touring troupes to rehearse. The community aspect is, once this is complete, we will be better suited to draw in acts to Houlton for performances.”
While he admitted the auditorium doesn’t have the seating capacity for large-scale events, it is ideally suited for classical-type events, such as ballets, dance recitals, plays and instrumental concerts.
“Anything that requires a venue of 600 seats, we are the venue in northern Maine,” he said. “Houlton is the obvious focal point because we are located at the end of the Interstate.”
He pointed to the success of the Robinson Ballet Company, which performed a sold-out show of “The Nutrcracker” last November as an indication of how successful the project can be.
The Houlton Community Arts Center primary competition is the Caribou Performing Arts Center, which has a seating capacity of 826. But for many acts, Caribou may be too far to travel, Sylvester said.
Sylvester admits trying to raise money during the current economy is not easy.
“Fundraising back then, was a little bit easier as it was just before the big economic downturn,” Sylvester said. “It wasn’t easy then, but it’s easier than it is right now.”
The committee has several naming rights opportunities where an individual or business can donate a set sum of money and have space named after them.
Sylvester said the ideal scenario would be for Houlton High School alumni, either individually or as an entire class, to come forward and pledge their support for the arts center.
“If everybody pooled their gifts, who knows how much we could achieve for Phase Two,” he said. “It doesn’t take one person donating a large sum of money, although that would be wonderful too.”
For more information on the HCAC, visit www.houltonarts.org.