Springfield Regional Arts Council

"At the Center of the arts"

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Creamery Arts Center's a mess — and supporters love it.

By Sony Hocklander
News-Leader

Torn paneling, bright orange fencing, concrete mixers, workers on the roof, stacked up office supplies and furniture — it's a mess at the Creamery Arts Center. And community arts leaders couldn't be happier. Because mess means progress as work gets under way to bring the 32,000-square-foot historic building in Jordan Valley Park up to code for public use — the first of five development phases.

Also happening: A new outdoor classroom is under construction, arts groups are moving in, collaborative projects are taking flight and additional funds are rolling in.

"It's just an exciting time," says arts advocate Rob Baird, one key player in Creamery development. "And I think more and more people can get involved."

The city-owned cultural-arts building in Jordan Valley Park helps facilitate growth in the arts by providing a home for programs like the two-year-old summer art camp for Community Center kids.

A recent $1.4 million federal appropriation, which Rep. Roy Blunt will formally announce at a press conference today, will speed projects along, making the Creamery Arts Center a more viable part of Jordan Valley Park.

"It's all coming together," says Parks Director Dan Kinney. "Whether you are going to be involved in sports or fine arts, you can do it all right in downtown Springfield."

Cultural plan

The Cultural Plan, a needs assessment and action plan for the arts and the Creamery, was approved as part of Vision 20/20 in November by the Springfield City Council. A vision for growth in the arts, it was created with input from visual and performing artists and organizations, and community members.

"The Cultural Plan articulates the needs that were out there, and the partnerships that can be formed," says Kay Logsdon, executive director of the Springfield Regional Arts Council, which administrates many aspects of the plan.

"And now we have a building that facilitates that," says Baird. "It takes it from being an abstract thing."

An important component of the Cultural Plan, particularly at the Creamery, is arts education. The plan ensures construction at the Creamery will facilitate those needs: art studios, rehearsal, exhibits, classrooms and more.

Construction under way

The Creamery Arts Center project, scheduled to continue through 2010, could cost $6 million in public and private funding. A creative tax credit fund-raising program launched three years ago has resulted in $2.1 million for Cultural Plan projects. Nearly $1.1 million of that pays for this first construction phase.

It won't make the building prettier, Logsdon says, but makes it usable, including a large warehouse space for receptions, exhibits, small performances and public art projects.

Two sets of restrooms will be added to the existing set — making three total.

Current construction includes a new roof (more than 35 percent complete), drainage work, mold and asbestos remediation, insulation, fire protection (including sprinklers), mechanical and electrical work (including lights, vents and heating), and plumbing.

Also part of phase one: a costume shop and instrument storage through a collaborative $42,000 project funded by a Community Foundation of the Ozarks grant. Costumes for Springfield's ballet, opera and Little Theatre organizations will be created and stored in part of the space.

Once air conditioning and humidity control is established, storing Springfield Symphony instruments at the Creamery will save time and money, says executive director Carlana Fitch.

The $42,000 outdoor classroom is funded by Rotaract of Springfield and Rotary Clubs of Springfield, of Springfield Sunrise and of Springfield North as a Rotary Centennial project. It includes a storage building for tables and supplies; amphitheater seating and a small plaza. A ribbon-cutting for the classroom is scheduled for Feb. 23.

"We envision it becoming something that can be used in spring and summer, for all kinds of art-related classes — not just drawing and painting but for dance and acting," says Carol Williamson from Rotary Club of Springfield.

Another project by Southeast Rotary Club brings Russ RuBert's 23-foot "Kinetic Man" to a plaza poured nearby.

In later phases, one floor level could become an art studio and a workshop space; another is planned to be used to build sets. Also on the budget in later phases: a black-box theater and film studio.

Arts on the move

These days, operatic music mixes with the sound of construction. In October, Springfield Regional Opera moved into the building.

Springfield Ballet should arrive by July, says board President Alan Lockhart. They'll build two studios in space vacated this month by SRAC, which moves into refurbished digs east of the front door. A third studio will be constructed in part of the warehouse.

Each studio will cost about $20,000 to furbish with sprung floors, mirrors and bars. Fund raising is under way, Lockhart says. Across the hall, office space will be combined with a parent waiting room.

Moving into the Creamery facilitates collaboration, cuts monthly costs — about $600 for the opera and about $2,000 for the ballet — and raises public profiles.

"The opera company has been a bit under the radar in this town," says Janice Fulbright, executive director at SRO. "I think we'll get a lot more visibility over here, and that's very important."

Increased foot traffic will benefit the Creamery, too. The ballet school alone will bring 100 students and their parents to the building each week.

"The goal is to create a community arts center that serves the community," says Logsdon. "That means the community has to know about it."
Money breakdown

Creamery Arts Center projects are possible through the vision of some, support from many and a labyrinth of creative funding, say some of those involved.

"If everything had been done in traditional ways, there would be no Creamery," says Rob Baird, a key player and donor whose directed funds already generate activity in the center including Art in the Park, a summer program for Community Center kids. Such programs generate excitement and inspire more funding including the $1.4 million, says Gary Funk, president of Community Foundation of the Ozarks. Creamery-related funding includes:

* $2.1 million held by the Missouri Finance Development Board from a three-year tax credit fund-raising effort with help from the Community Foundation. Half pays for phase one construction; the rest, it's hoped, will leverage additional donations.
* $44,000 for arts education and curriculum from a 2004 federal appropriation that pays for arts enrichment for underprivileged kids.
* $42,000 to construct and equip a costume shop and instrument storage through a collaborative Community Foundation grant to SRAC and Springfield's ballet, Little Theatre, opera and symphony.
* $25,000 for Art in the Park from the donor-advised Ray F. Aton Memorial Fund at the Community Foundation, with matching support from the Missouri Cultural Trust.
* $42,000 for the outdoor classroom from Rotary clubs.
* $30,000 Musgrave Foundation grant for art studios and classrooms.
* $13,700 Missouri Arts Council grant for SRAC operations.

Copyright © 2005, The Springfield News-Leader, a Gannett Company.