Major upgrades necessary according to Jasper Arts Board

The Jasper Arts Board is asking the City of Jasper to make a financial commitment for a major upgrade. Michael Jones, president of the Jasper Community Arts Board addressed the Jasper Common Council Wednesday night on the need to readdress updating and expanding the Jasper Arts Department and facilities.

Jones told the council a Capital Project Campaign Committee has already been organized and is ready to begin to raise additional funds once the city has committed a significant amount of dollars towards the project.

Jones pointed out the major factor in delaying the expansion planned in 2006 was the city’s funding and construction of the Youth Sports Complex on 12th Ave. The bond used to pay for that construction will be paid by the end of 2013 and with that paid off the commission wants the city to look at a major expansion of the arts facilities.

According to Jones the value of the Arts Department for Jasper included a savings on the funding for the sports complexes due to a better bond rating for the city. Jones said the savings on the sports complex bond is greater than the amount the city has spent on the operating expense of the Arts Department over the past 25 years.

Jones cited the importance of the Jasper Arts department and the arts in general to municipalities. “The Arts have such an impact economically that many cities are beginning to create Arts Departments for that reason.” Jones read from a prepared statement.

Jones contends that the Jasper Arts Center is vital in attracting new businesses, business leaders and employees. In the long run the Arts creates creative thinkers and problem solvers which in turn make for good employees and business leaders. Additionally it reduces “brain drain”; the buzzword for the movement of young adults from their hometowns due to lack of opportunity and entertainment.

The Arts Department currently averages 40,000 people attending over 1000 events annually. The building is in use 52 weeks out of the year including Saturdays and many Sundays. The planned expansion could create revenue through rentals for weddings, meetings and classes. This would increase the usage, the venues offered and revenues for the city.

A current expansion plan has been designed by Universal Design Associates in Ferdinand. The plans call for over twice the space currently available and make the facility ADA compliant. It also increases the office space, classroom space, and bathrooms. Jones declined to give the estimated cost of the expansion until it has been presented to the council.

The board feels the increased classroom space could be used by VUJC for an expanded Arts program and fits in with the construction of the Advanced Manufacturing and Technological Center directly adjacent to the community arts building.

Jones stated the capital campaign would be more successful if the city agrees to commit dollars to the project.

Jasper Arts Director Kit Miracle stated the department continues to expand venues and class offerings within the limited confines of the current building and with the proposed additions these new venues and classes could increase exponentially.

Mayor Terry Seitz stated he heard of the Arts Commission’s concerns during his campaign. During the mayors recent city chats he exuded the importance of the Arts Department to the city in terms of revenue and tourism. “I think they are just getting their request in early to start the process of examining the issue during the upcoming budgeting process or next year’s budgeting process.”

The Jasper Arts Department is one of only a few cities in the United States that has a municipally supported arts department. The Jasper Arts Department is also the only arts entity in the state of Indiana to have won the Governor’s Arts Award twice.