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March 13, 2010

Renovations continue on Strand Theater

By DAN HEATH The Press Republican Sat Mar 13, 2010, 10:44 PM EST

Work continues on renovation of the Strand Theater even as the North Country Center for the Arts settles into its new home.

Leigh Mundy, president of the Center for the Arts' Board of Directors, said tying the Federal Building to the Center for the Arts and its Strand Theater project was a great move.

"Large productions need staging, changing and rehearsal space. We can do that over here," she said.

Mundy said the Center for the Arts moved into the Federal Building in September and has already hosted some events there. Volunteers have removed a number of walls to create larger open spaces on the first floor.

There is presently a large community room that is also used as gallery space. Mundy said exhibits will change every few months.

The room has enough space to host meetings, dinners, dances and other performances.

Part of the former IRS offices has been converted into an artists' store, she said, where artists can sell their works.

The Center for the Arts can presently also use the southern half of the second floor.

One space houses A Whimsical World. It features a book of poems by Jan Stanley and illustrated by Tamia Gastio, combined with a number of large cardboard playhouses and other props.

"It's a whole world they create where kids can get in the story line," Mundy said. "It's quite a fun place when they get it all set up. It will be there for several months."

Other spaces are used for classrooms. Crews continue to work to create enough exits to meet building codes before the other half can be occupied.

"The other side will eventually be artist studios and other classrooms once we have access," she said.

The basement also needs renovations to provide enough exits. Mundy said plans call for a dedicated ceramics area, dance studio and additional classrooms.

Work also continues on the theater restoration project. The Center for the Arts purchased the theater in 2005.

"We have many miles to go before we rest, but we are on the journey," Mundy said.

Even though the Center for the Arts has received numerous grant awards, it often takes a long time for that funding to arrive.

"We don't know when some of these will come," she said.

In some ways that helps, as the Center for the Arts needs to raise about $600,000 to match the grants it has been awarded. Mundy realizes that will take time, especially in the current economic climate.

"If I had it (funding and grants) all in pocket today, we could be open in about a year," she said.

The Center for the Arts recently announced a $200,000 matching grant through the Save America's Treasures program with the assistance of U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. That money is targeted for installation of a new roof, which is needed before work on the auditorium can resume.

That funding was included in the 2010 Federal Budget. It should be safe even though the program has since been slated for elimination under President Barack Obama's proposed 2011 budget.

The Center for the Arts was also recently awarded a $25,000 matching grant that is part of the 2010 New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation budget. Mundy said State Sen. Betty Little helped secure that funding.

Materials to finish the first and second floor areas from the front door to the auditorium doors are on hand, Mundy said.

"Everything is paid for. We're just waiting for it to go in."

That includes new restrooms for the second floor and a lift to make the area handicapped accessible.

The first-floor restrooms have been tiled. A drop ceiling will be installed, then the individual stalls and equipment.

All work and materials need to be approved by the State Office of Historic Preservation because the theater is a registered National Historic Site, she said.

Half of a 2006 grant of $182,000 under the state's Historic Preservation Program was used for asbestos removal, windows and front doors.

Mundy said they were lucky to find one of the original doors for sale on E-bay. That allowed them to find some exact copies for the other doors.

The other half of the grant is intended for exterior work. The Center for the Arts still needs to finish raising matching funds before the money can be used.

A second Historic Preservation grant awarded in 2008 was for $300,000. It will go toward heating, air-conditioning and electrical work, and also needs matching funds.

Mundy said there are still plenty of seat sponsorship opportunities available. They range from $150 to $500 a seat, depending on location.

That includes an inscribed plaque that can be used to honor a loved one. Prospective donors can view available seat locations at the Center for the Arts offices.

"That's a good way to own a piece of the theater and to donate to a good cause," Mundy said.

Efforts to restore a donated Wurlitzer pipe organ continue, by a group of volunteers led by Jonathan Ortloff. It will be located in the basement and raised to the stage area by a hydraulic lift when needed.

Volunteers are doing a lot of work, such as painting the moldings contractors use to match the original interior. They recreate some of the trim work by making molds using some of the originals that were still in place.

"The (former) theater owners didn't destroy them. They just covered them up," Mundy said. "That was a gift."

The theater may host some events before the restoration is complete, she said, after the heating system and restrooms are in place.

Mundy believes when the marquis and facade are completed, people will be reenergized and again believe the restoration is going to happen.

"This is going to be such a jewel for our community," she said. "It's a labor of love."

E-mail Dan Heath at: dheath@pressrepublican.com