You can now view Calendars of Events for today and upcoming weeks? A complete and up-to-date list of local events is now available on every section of PressRepublican.com.
PLATTSBURGH — The name is the same, the mission is the same, but the North Country Cultural Center for the Arts has a new spacious view of its own in the Federal Building.
In June 2009, the center won approval from the U.S. Department of Education to utilize the building, located on the corner of Margaret and Brinkerhoff streets in downtown Plattsburgh.
Though Mayor Donald Kasprzak wanted the building on the property-tax rolls, the Federal General Services Administration ultimately granted the title to the Cultural Center, which is making its vision of an accredited arts center come true.
RENOVATIONS
"The title transfer came through in August," said Susan Daul, the center's executive director. "We moved in the first part of September. We have been redesigning, taking out walls and restructuring our spaces so it's more functional for the artists and community."
The center's first priority was the exhibition gallery.
"Right now, (approved) by the city, we have occupancy for the first floor and the upstairs classrooms on the south side of the building," Daul said.
"We're working to get better egress on the rest of the building. We have to come up to the fire and occupancy codes."
A two-way egress for classrooms and another fire escape are musts.
"These are the things we are working on right now to utilize the whole building," Daul said. "We want to occupy and use all the classroom spaces."
MORE ROOM
In the fall of 1999, Adelina "Addie" Gray birthed the idea of a community arts center with Jackie Sabourin. Gray founded the non-profit Cultural Center with Fay Goldie, Sabourin, Sarah Tucker and Sylvia Stack, who served as the center's first president.
"It was my baby," Gray said. "I'm glad it's still going."
The center was originally located in the old Merchant Bank across the street.
"In the Merchant Bank, we had 4,000 square feet, with one classroom in the back," Daul said. "Now, we have 15,000 square feet. We have a full gallery space, community gathering space, administrative offices, four functioning classrooms, at this point, and another six for artists-in-residency spaces after we get occupancy."
LOOKING AHEAD
The center's basement is slated for studio spaces for pottery, film, photography and dance. Programs offered include Kindermusik, Theater for Youth and a recent Gingerbread House Workshop.
"We just put in all our grants for scholarships for next year to run our Art Quest camps. We're hoping to start our Teen Art program. We ran one session in the fall."
The center is in the program-growth mode.
"We hired a new education coordinator, Ali Dellabitta. Colleen Lutinski does the DEC (Decentralization) grants. Donna Lock is our bookkeeper. Beth Barnes is the administrative assistant. Our right-hand savior is Leigh Mundy, who is our board president."
The center's operation budget is $200,000 and will rise as programming increases.
But Gov. David Paterson's fiscal holdup has impacted the center.
"It's affected us the same way it's affected other non-profits," Daul said. "Payments have been delayed. You have to use more of your own resources to continue functioning until the state catches up.
"Any time the state cuts the budget, it can be a real problem. We do a lot of our own fundraising."
E-mail Robin Caudell at: rcaudell@pressrepublican.com
No Limits for Disabled Hunters at Mich. Base
Victim Identified in Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Radioactive Bluefin Tuna Crossed the Pacific
90 Guns Seized, Dozens Arrested in Oakland
Raw Video: Hail Storm Batters Oklahoma City
6-Year-Old Going to National Spelling Bee
California's Foie Gras Ban About to Begin
Video Essay: Funky Winkerbean Comic Turns 40
Hurricane Andrew Remembered, 20 Years Later
Judge's Ruling Halts Tenn. Mosque Construction
Romney in Las Vegas on Texas Primary Day
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing
Even Fla. Police Shocked by Face-Mauling Attack
Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
