After only a week, the Emporia Arts Council is halfway toward the goal of $62,000 — a challenge set forth by an anonymous donor for the community to raise $62,000 to match the donor’s $75,000 pledge.
“We are down to $31,000 left,” EAC Executive Director Melissa Windsor said.
This is the final push of the $2.8 million needed to build an arts center to be constructed north of the Granada Theatre, and will involve razing three existing buildings that currently are empty. Fundraising efforts have been going on for two years. It’s finally down to the wire.
“It’s unbelievebale sometimes,” Windsor said. “At the same time it’s still pretty amazing.”
The arts center will hold studios and galleries, conference meeting rooms, a kitchen, a small theater and other amenities that are intended to encourage art and art appreciation, as well as complement the Granada's capabilities. Programs, workshops and exhibitions also will be enhanced after the two-story center is built.
For more information, or to make a donation, call Windsor at 343-6473.
The deadline to meet the challenge is Sept. 30.