October 24, 2007
Contact: Ken Culver 360-734-9032
Arts District Supporters Rally for $8.6 Million Campaign for the Arts
Bellingham – "I'm thrilled that we're more than half way towards success in a private initiative to raise $8.6 million, a reflection of the strong support this community has made to the Arts District project," said Ken Culver, president of the board, Campaign for the Arts. "To date our donors have contributed over $4.7 million towards our goal, and this without a lot of publicity. Now I publicly thank those generous early donors who saw and understood the vision of this incredible developing Arts District scene."
The Campaign for the Arts (CFA) is a non-profit headed by citizens committed to supporting efforts to enhance the District's historic icons; the Whatcom Museum and Mount Baker Theatre. The CFA will benefit the endowments of each organization, assist with capital costs not covered by the Bellingham Whatcom Public Facilities District (PFD) and cover all campaign costs. The CFA is raising $8.6 million that will be matched by up to $25 million of public investment from the PFD and the City of Bellingham in select Arts District projects, including streetscapes. The construction of Whatcom Museum's new facilities for fine art and children's exhibits as well as the final phase of improvements to the Mount Baker Theatre will solidify these two institutions as the cornerstones of the Arts District.
"There are only a few truly defining community projects that will make this an even better place to live. The Arts District is one of them and we're excited to be part of it," said Janice and Glenn Butler, early CFA donors and volunteers for the project.
Cities across the country are working to cultivate arts districts. They are magnets for economic vitality, catalysts for private investment and mainstays for community gathering. Almost ten years ago, a small group of leaders began working on the potential of an Arts District in Bellingham. The PFD formed in 2002 during a one time opportunity for tax revenue to be returned to this community for a "project of regional significance." The key projects expect to stimulate private investment, leading to the emergence of a lively themed district.
The Arts District encompasses an extraordinary number of arts and cultural organizations in the downtown area besides the Mount Baker Theatre and the Whatcom Museum; including the Bellingham Public Library, the American Museum of Radio and Electricity, Allied Arts, the Pickford Film Center, Mindport, the Railroad Museum, the Blue Horse Gallery, the Upfront Theater, Idiom Theater and dozens of arts events, cafes and restaurants, galleries, shops, businesses and residences, and more are on the way. Together, these attractions form a "point destination" for our community and visitors alike."There are many exciting changes already underway in the Arts District with more on the horizon. As we inaugurate the public phase of this dynamic campaign, we invite you to be a part of bringing this vision to life by contributing to CFA," said Ken Culver.
Contribution may be made payable to the Whatcom Community Foundation which is the fiscal sponsor of the Campaign for the Arts. For more information or to contribute to the Campaign for the Arts contact Ken Culver at staff@artsdistrictbellingham.net or 360-483-9223
