Arts Association awaits new building contract
Kalen Ponche
Issue date: 4/7/05 Section: News
Sharon Pritchard, president of the Kirksville Arts Association, patiently waits for two things: to sign the contract for a building that will house a new $1.2 million facility for the KAA and to hang a poster on the outside of the building.
"We have the contract," she said. "We're just having our lawyers review it, and then we're ready."
In the coming months, Kirksville will gain a cultural center on the Square, amid the exodus of many businesses from downtown.
The KAA has purchased the former Baldwin Bizmart building located on the corner of Franklin and McPherson streets for $155,000, KAA board member Brad Steenhoek said.
The KAA will kick off a capital campaign after it closes on the building deal to raise money for renovations, which will include an art gallery and a 100-seat theater on the first floor.
The KAA decided to search for a larger facility last fall.
"We had a retreat in September and made the decision we needed to raise awareness of our location and of us in general," she said. "... People would say to us, 'You are the best-kept secret in town.' We're trying to raise awareness of the cultural activities that are available in town. Nobody really knows what's going on in general."
Colorful drawings and posters liven up the small room where the KAA has its meetings. It is housed inside the Mini Mall off of Main Street, where it has been for the past four years.
Pritchard said it is easier to receive grants, which make up a portion of the KAA's budget, if an association has a permanent location. Pritchard said lately the KAA has been relying on its major fund-raisers, the Red Barn Art Fair and the annual auction, to provide money because funding for grants from Missouri has been cut drastically. Pritchard said having a large facility to host events will help them get more grants.
"It gives us leverage when it comes to grant writing because it's a permanent entity," she said.
The KAA rents out space for performances throughout the city, which can be costly.
"By the time we pay to have a place for our concerts, we barely break even," she said.
About the time the board decided to look for a bigger location, it found out the Baldwin family, who owned the building at 119 Franklin St., was thinking about selling it.
"[The Baldwins] were very gracious to hold it off the market so we could see if we could buy it," she said. "They are donating $20,000 back to the program, which looks wonderful when it is on a grant."
The 16,000 square foot building will house the KAA, the Community Chorus and Curtain Call Theater. The Community Chorus is part of the KAA, but the Curtain Call Theater is now an independent entity.
"We are a nonprofit organization in Kirksville, and our mission is to provide quality live entertainment to Kirksville and the surrounding community," said Kevin Martin, vice president of Curtain Call Theater.
The theater company puts on three shows a year, two in conjunction with the Wooden Nickel as live dinner theater shows at the Round Barn. They also perform one musical each summer, which is usually hosted at the middle school, however they are now searching for a new place to perform it.
For the first year, Martin said the Curtain Call Theater will contract with the KAA to use its theater. The two groups have discussed the KAA becoming an umbrella corporation for the Curtain Call Theater after that.
"Beyond that, we haven't really discussed," Martin said. "We'll try to play it by ear."
Martin said the KAA has taken great initiative to reach out to the other arts people in town to get them on the same page.
"[The KAA Board] has got that passion and urgency to step up and get it done that we haven't seen in the past," he said. "It's really refreshing."
Pritchard said she thinks the new building will provide them a place for events such as the National Endowment for the Humanities traveling exhibition "Voices of American Farm Women" that will visit Kirksville in 2006. The KAA also hosts exhibits at area businesses. The 2005 Regional Art's School Exhibits will be displayed at Wal-Mart, Ponderosa and Hy-Vee starting April 1.
KAA Executive Director Judy Neuweg said the building will provide the KAA with the ability to reach out to a greater area to promote the arts.
"We'll be expanding the roles of arts to area schools within other communities in rural Northeast Missouri, like the regional art exhibits," she said. "So we will have student art from La Plata, Brashear, Novinger, Kirksville and Queen City."
Neuweg said she hopes with the second and third stages of the renovation, they will be able to create artist studios and dance practice space.
"It's something that has been needed for a long time," she said.
Martin said it could bring many benefits.
"I think it's a huge plus, right now, as far as Kirksville competing for businesses incoming," he said. "It even draws on residence or drawing people to college. ... It's one of those things that will push Kirksville over the edge."
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"We have the contract," she said. "We're just having our lawyers review it, and then we're ready."
In the coming months, Kirksville will gain a cultural center on the Square, amid the exodus of many businesses from downtown.
The KAA has purchased the former Baldwin Bizmart building located on the corner of Franklin and McPherson streets for $155,000, KAA board member Brad Steenhoek said.
The KAA will kick off a capital campaign after it closes on the building deal to raise money for renovations, which will include an art gallery and a 100-seat theater on the first floor.
The KAA decided to search for a larger facility last fall.
"We had a retreat in September and made the decision we needed to raise awareness of our location and of us in general," she said. "... People would say to us, 'You are the best-kept secret in town.' We're trying to raise awareness of the cultural activities that are available in town. Nobody really knows what's going on in general."
Colorful drawings and posters liven up the small room where the KAA has its meetings. It is housed inside the Mini Mall off of Main Street, where it has been for the past four years.
Pritchard said it is easier to receive grants, which make up a portion of the KAA's budget, if an association has a permanent location. Pritchard said lately the KAA has been relying on its major fund-raisers, the Red Barn Art Fair and the annual auction, to provide money because funding for grants from Missouri has been cut drastically. Pritchard said having a large facility to host events will help them get more grants.
"It gives us leverage when it comes to grant writing because it's a permanent entity," she said.
The KAA rents out space for performances throughout the city, which can be costly.
"By the time we pay to have a place for our concerts, we barely break even," she said.
About the time the board decided to look for a bigger location, it found out the Baldwin family, who owned the building at 119 Franklin St., was thinking about selling it.
"[The Baldwins] were very gracious to hold it off the market so we could see if we could buy it," she said. "They are donating $20,000 back to the program, which looks wonderful when it is on a grant."
The 16,000 square foot building will house the KAA, the Community Chorus and Curtain Call Theater. The Community Chorus is part of the KAA, but the Curtain Call Theater is now an independent entity.
"We are a nonprofit organization in Kirksville, and our mission is to provide quality live entertainment to Kirksville and the surrounding community," said Kevin Martin, vice president of Curtain Call Theater.
The theater company puts on three shows a year, two in conjunction with the Wooden Nickel as live dinner theater shows at the Round Barn. They also perform one musical each summer, which is usually hosted at the middle school, however they are now searching for a new place to perform it.
For the first year, Martin said the Curtain Call Theater will contract with the KAA to use its theater. The two groups have discussed the KAA becoming an umbrella corporation for the Curtain Call Theater after that.
"Beyond that, we haven't really discussed," Martin said. "We'll try to play it by ear."
Martin said the KAA has taken great initiative to reach out to the other arts people in town to get them on the same page.
"[The KAA Board] has got that passion and urgency to step up and get it done that we haven't seen in the past," he said. "It's really refreshing."
Pritchard said she thinks the new building will provide them a place for events such as the National Endowment for the Humanities traveling exhibition "Voices of American Farm Women" that will visit Kirksville in 2006. The KAA also hosts exhibits at area businesses. The 2005 Regional Art's School Exhibits will be displayed at Wal-Mart, Ponderosa and Hy-Vee starting April 1.
KAA Executive Director Judy Neuweg said the building will provide the KAA with the ability to reach out to a greater area to promote the arts.
"We'll be expanding the roles of arts to area schools within other communities in rural Northeast Missouri, like the regional art exhibits," she said. "So we will have student art from La Plata, Brashear, Novinger, Kirksville and Queen City."
Neuweg said she hopes with the second and third stages of the renovation, they will be able to create artist studios and dance practice space.
"It's something that has been needed for a long time," she said.
Martin said it could bring many benefits.
"I think it's a huge plus, right now, as far as Kirksville competing for businesses incoming," he said. "It even draws on residence or drawing people to college. ... It's one of those things that will push Kirksville over the edge."