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Creative Arts and Conference Center

In the early 1990s, Clark State agreed to be the community’s steward for a performing arts center that has played a pivotal role in the revitalization of downtown Springfield. Demand for use of the Center by a wide variety of constituents has risen dramatically in the last 15 years. Over the last few years, numerous focus groups have identified corporate, arts and community needs, which have been incorporated into the design of this new, multi-functional center in the heart of downtown.

The Creative Arts and Conference Center (CACC) will be constructed on Limestone Street, between the Performing Arts Center and the Regent Theater. It has been designed with the highest possible degree of functional flexibility to meet a wide variety of needs. It consists of approximately 25,820 square feet in two wings connected by an atrium, with access to an outside courtyard.

The one-story, 18’ tall west wing consists of Hollenbeck Grand Hall and related service areas. It will be configured for maximum flexibility to accommodate many types of performances, corporate conferences, trade shows and community events. The Hall can be used for rehearsal space or intimate performances for groups such as the Youth Symphony. It will host up to 500 people at round tables for a meal or meeting—a capacity not available anywhere else in the downtown area. For conferences, the Grand Hall can be used in conjunction with the breakout rooms and classrooms in the east wing of the CACC, as well as in the Performing Arts Center.

"We are excited about the activity and revenue that this facility can bring into downtown and into our community," said Rafinski.

Classrooms in the building will provide instructional space for theatre performance and stage production technology programs to expand. New media and general education classes will also be offered. The second floor will provide a permanent home for the Center’s nationally-acclaimed arts outreach programs, such as Project Jericho, and will also provide arts activity space for other community organizations.

CACC Section View CACC Top View CACC
Section View Birds-eye View Site Plan

Fact Sheet

Benefits

  • Downtown Revitalization. A community project that builds upon and complements an extraordinary mix of other downtown investments. Springfield’s downtown is revitalizing itself at an incomparable rate!
  • Conference Center. Will meet the conference, trade and professional development functions so often requested by area businesses and organizations, and bring people and revenue into the community.
  • Kresge Challenge Grant. An opportunity to bring $850,000 in funding to our community from one of the largest and most prestigious foundations in our country. They were impressed enough with the project to invest in it with the expectation that the community will meet the “challenge.” Raising the $850,000 match will result in a $6 million building!
  • More Performance/Rehearsal Space. The Grand Hall provides a venue for intimate performances and rehearsals, which will make Kuss Auditorium more available.
  • Home for Project Jericho. Permanent home for nationally-recognized arts education and outreach programs.
  • Community Events. All types, including dinners and receptions in the only downtown location that will seat 500 people at tables.
  • Theatre, New Media and General Classes. Will increase downtown activity and foot traffic, as well as enhance Clark State’s educational capacity.

Building

  • Approximately 25,820 sq.ft.
  • West wing (Fountain side) is one story, 18’ high, Grand Hall seats 500 people at tables
  • East wing (Limestone side) is two stories, classrooms and breakout rooms
  • Wings are connected by a spacious atrium with access to outside courtyard
  • Connected to Performing Arts Center by a canopy

Funding

  • State funds ~ $2,020,000
  • Contributions to date ~ $665,120
  • College/Foundation allocations ~ $1,422,880
  • Kresge Challenge Grant ~ $850,000
  • Kresge match to be raised ~ $850,000
  • Total cost ~ $5,808,000

The matching $850,000 must be raised by June 30, 2010. It is "all or nothing"; there are no partial distributions. The campaign to raise the matching funds will be chaired by Andy Bell and honorary co-chairs Harry and Linda Egger.

Timeline

  • Design development ~ November 2009
  • Bids ~ March 2010
  • Bid awards ~ May 2010
  • Construction begins ~ June 2010
  • Completion ~ January 2012

Kresge statistics
The Kresge Foundation in Detroit is one of the nation’s largest philanthropic organizations. They have $3.8 billion in assets. In 2007 they earned a 21.6 percent return on investment, which was the #1 ROI among major US foundations and endowments.

The Kresge Foundation was established in 1924 by Sebastian Kresge for the "promotion of human progress." His chain of five-and-ten-cent Kresge stores would many years later be known as Kmart.

In 2008 they awarded 342 grants totaling $206 million.

Clark State is only the sixth community college in the country to receive a Kresge grant.

They make decisions primarily on how the project supports one or more of their values: creating opportunity, community impact, institutional transformation, risk, environmental conservation, innovation, collaboration, underserved geography and diversity. They also look for demonstrated fundraising success; they want the challenge grants they make to be successful.

The grant proposal was written by Kris Culp, Vice President of Advancement at Clark State.

Press Conference - September 29, 2009

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