5.6. SR 07-15-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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A Bimonthly PuM]cation of the Elk River Area July-August 2002 Edition Number 40 Family & Arts Center Plans Moving Along The Family & Arts Center is on track and we're ready to roll! In May, the lSD #728 School Board unanimously approved a resolu- tion which reaffirms its partnership with ERAAA in the regional Family & Art Center. It also formally commits to locating the center in the historic Handke School in Elk River, contingent upon the successful passing of a bond referendum for a new elementary school and city involvement. Handke has been closed as a school, but will continue to be used for the districrs Early Childhood & Family Education and Community Education programs (major components of the Family Center.) Originally, the Family & Arts Center was to be in a newly constructed building, but the school district began looking at other op- tions in an effort to conserve dollars and maximize the utilization of current space. Community Education has obtained a $500,000 grant from the State of Minnesota for their portion of the construction costs. The Family & Arts Center will be a regional facility with programs in- cluding Community Education, Early Childhood & Family Education, Head Start, two Sherburne County Human Services programs and the ERAAA Arts Center. It will have a large, beautiful multi-use com- munity gathering space with catering facilities. As a place for life-long learning, services to families, and a sense of community, the Family & Arts Center will provide classrooms, studios and offices for the above programs. The centerpiece of the Family & Arts Center will be an atrium, an aesthetically pleasing space for arts exhibits, informal performances & presentations, meetings, and daily visits with friends and family. Handke School has a particularly beau- tiful view of the historic Handke Stadium, which is currently being restored by the Rotary. Care would be taken to carry the creative and historic visual themes throughout the building. With the wide variety of programs and services provided, the Family & Arts Center will be like no other facility in our area: a vital, creative, inviting place for all ages. The ERAAA Arts Center Planning Committee is also exploring other sites, including space in Elk River's Historic Downtown. If the school district cannot release Handke as an elementary school, the commit- tee needs to identify other viable options. The plan is to conduct fea- sibility studies this summer so that we can embark on our construc- tion and capital fund raising plans this fall. We wantYOUR input: ERAAA's Arts Center Planning Committee ~embers are Tony Darkenwald, Harvey Schroeder, Lyla Aaland, John *"'"Kuester, Sara Hartman, David Flannery, Sharon Tracy, Nancy Gongoll, Chris Mettling and Isobel Stander. Feel free to visit with committee members to ask questions or give us your opinion. Call the ERAAA office 763-441-4725 for contact information. ~>ny D~r~enw~id page 2, Featured Artist, Rena Haus page 3, W,~at's the D/fference? Exhibit & Sb'ings forYou(h P~3e 4, Poetry Workshop with Olivia Gault p~ge 5, E~.AA Art Exhibits p~e 5, Community Ed. P~ans New Program and the LeffeI-McGre~ Workshop pa~e 7, Artists Ca~l and Even[s Calendar See the fnserted [tier ~or fn[ormatfon on an ERA~ members p~c~fc ~ter thfs summer. Three Rivers CommunityTheatre Invites New Members to Share in Planning Local community theatre members and well as anyone who appreciates drama, music, comedy, and dance, received an exceptional boost this year when the Elk River City Council voted to purchase the Elk River Area Senior High School Little Theatre. The City Council also generously opened the theatre's doors to the Three Rivers Community Theatre's yearly productions. This move will definitely help the community theatre group to revitalize itself as use of the theatre space previously had been needed from school use and student production. For several years community theatre members found it difficult and sometimes impossible to locate a stage in the Elk River area to put on performances. A meeting for anyone interested in becoming a part of this theatre resurgence was held June 20 and the turnout was tremendous. Plans are being made for a musical, The After Hours Cafe, which is being written by Elaine Anderson and will be performed the last two weekends in September. Anyone interested in being involved in this theatre revitalization or the upcoming musical may call Les or Elaine Anderson at 763-441-2612.