County puts $20,000 toward DeltaARTS renovations

County puts $20,000 toward DeltaARTS renovations

Money will help community group reach fundraising goal

news@theeveningtimes.com

Crittenden County has agreed to give DeltaARTS $20,000 to help install lighting for a new stage.

DeltaARTS executive director Amelia Barton told the Quorum Court that they are in the middle of a $500,000 capital fundraising campaign and need the county’s support to help them reach their goal for obtaining a matching grant. “We received $100,000 from the Assisi Foundation with the stipulation that we raise $300,000 to receive their $100,000,” Barton said. “We are currently at $256,000 toward the $300,000. So we are getting closer there.”

Included in that capital campaign are plans to build a stage in the former lecture hall at the Schoettle Center for performances.

Barton said the $20,000 would help pay for the lighting and count toward their fundraising match from the Assisi Foundation. “As you know, the building was designed to be a lecture hall,” Barton said.

“One of the main things we need to do is to create a proper stage within that area with stage lighting and sound so our theater kids can do performances. This would be tremendous for us if you all could help us with this. This will enable us to get our building to where it needs to be to receive the $100,000 from the Assisi Foundation.”

Justice Stacy Allen questioned why the county should pay for the stage when they already give them the building for a dollar a year in rent.

“We basically gave you all a building,” Allen said.

“Why should we have to give you all $20,000?”

The county rented the Glenn P. Schoettle Medical Education Center to DeltaARTS in 2016 to use for its headquarters. The 7,500 square foot facility features a 76 seat auditorium and was a gift from the Schoettle family to the county in honor of his 47 years of medical service in Crittenden County. The building is owned by the county and got caught up in the bankruptcy proceedings when Crittenden Regional Hospital went bankrupt in 2014 and closed.

Kelly Pouncey, DeltaARTS development director, said the stage would be an improvement to the county’s property.

“That is extremely generous of you and we love it,” Pouncey said. “What we are asking from you is strictly a capital improvement and we hope you will

see this through.”

Pouncey said she used to work for the Children’s Museum in Memphis which, like the Schoettle Center, is owned by the city. Memphis helped the museum out in their capital campaign by giving one million dollars.

“It shows more community support when we go forward to other things to have the support of you all,” Pouncey said. “This is something that continues to help.”

Allen also asked whether DeltaARTS had approached the Marion or West Memphis Advertising and Promotions Committees for the money.

“Or do you just feel like we should be the ones?”

Allen asked.

Pouncey said they have not asked for any A& P money.

Although the Quorum Court’s finance committee approved the request, Justice Lorenzo Parker said he would rather see DeltaARTS put it in a budget request from the county.

“I’m supportive of the arts council,” Parker said. “But when we get a request from a rural fire department who comes in asking for $20,000 for a new fire truck and we say no, you understand the comparisons that we get.”

Justice Vickie Robertson, who is also on the finance committee, said the $20,000 request would completely drain their funds.

“When the committee met, we did have a problem giving $20,000 at one time,” Robertson said.

Justice Robert Thorne said he recently attended a DeltaARTS performance and saw how it benefited area students.

“I understand the concerns,” Thorne said. “But I think anything we can do to help, we should be a part of helping them out.”

Robertson recommended giving the group $10,000 this year and $10,000 from next year’s county budget.

“That is fine,” Pouncey said. “All we need is your blessing so we can tell the (Assisi) Foundation.”

County Judge Woody Wheeless said the county will also need to draw up a formal contract with DeltaARTS. Auditors have told the county that in order to give money away they need a contract showing what the service to the community is.

“(County Attorney) Joe (Rogers) will draw up a contract actually stating what they will be giving back to the community,” Wheeless said.

Barton said they hope to begin renovations for the stage in January thanked the Quorum Court for their continued support.

“Since DeltaARTS has moved in to the Schoettle Center, it’s just incredible,” Barton said. “We are so appreciative and it just means so much to our constituents moving forward with a lot of things we were never able to do before.”

By Mark Randall