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StumbleuponWright State seeking funds to improve its arts center
University starts silent phase of campaign; expansion project expected to cost at least $22 million.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
FAIRBORN — Wright State University has started the silent phase of a development campaign to expand and modernize its Creative Arts Center.
The project, estimated to cost at least $22 million, will update facilities for WSU's thriving arts programs.
The Art and Art History; Music; and Theatre, Dance and Motion Pictures departments have seen a 17 percent jump in enrollment in the past five years.
"To expand the CAC and modernize it will let those programs make the next step," said Charles S. Taylor, dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
The CAC expansion calls for new music, art and dance classrooms, an in-house film production studio and a climate-controlled art gallery. The concert hall will be renovated, and a new, fully accessible entrance will be added.
The current CAC, opened in 1974, is home to nearly 1,000 students. "We have no space left," Taylor said. "In fact, it's overcrowded."
The campaign seeks more than $9 million in private gifts to augment requested federal support, WSU budget allocations and corporate and foundation funding.
"We haven't announced the official goal yet because we're trying to get a better sense of how much we can raise for the project," Taylor said.
The campaign received a $2 million anonymous pledge, and a $1 million pledge from Robert and Elaine Stein.
The CAC hosts more than 70,000 visitors annually for events that include ArtsGala, a fine and performing arts showcase that has raised more than $700,000 for arts scholarships since 2000. WSU students have gone on to win Emmy and Golden Globe Awards and have showcased films at the Sundance Film Festival.
"It's brought amazing things to this community in terms of the arts, and we want to keep that happening," Taylor said.
The campaign is expected to go public during the coming academic year.
