Sitka Fine Arts Camp Newsletter No. 26

October 13, 2011

Issue 26

We Can Do It, If We all Work Together!

Greetings!

Built in 1911, Allen Auditorium is one of the most beautiful historic buildings in Alaska. Originally used as a gym downstairs and classrooms upstairs, the large open space was ideal for many uses over time and many people have their own deep and personal memories of the space.

For me, when I was a kid, I remember going to Allen regularly as a 7th grader for play practice. Later in high school and college, I used to have music rehearsals in the building. It was central to all my years at Camp. The theater students rehearsed plays and musical theater, the tech theater students learned to run light and sound, and every evening at Camp, we assembled there for the evening shows.

In the 90s, Allen fell into disrepair and was slated for demolition. At the final hour, a group of dedicated citizens saved the building by finding funds for its preservation. A capital campaign was launched, more funds were raised and work began. By 2004 the building had been structurally renovated and a lion share's of the work done toward its complete restoration when the money ran out and all the work stopped.

I had an office on the campus during this construction phase and it was inspiring to watch the old building come back to life and have its beauty restored. I was very excited because, for the Fine Arts Camp, this building would transform our program. Suddenly the work stopped and, not so long after, all work on the campus would stop.

What a strange set of circumstances to find myself back on the Campus, but this time the Fine Arts Camp owning it and now the problem of Allen squarely in our lap.

What is the plan for Allen?

Our plan is to finish Allen Auditorium and we know we can if we all work together.

Our dream is that it become a Community Center for the Arts. We have plans for the beautiful upstairs classrooms to become dance studios that the Sitka Studio of Dance can use for their home during the year and downstairs the theater and stage become the home for a vibrant community theater program that serves kids and adults. The new lobby could be used for gallery space. In the summer it would once again be the center for the Fine Arts Camp, providing essential dance and theater space for our program as well as the home of our nightly "Art Shares."

In 9 months, our volunteers and donors rehabilitated 18 buildings on campus. Imagine what we can do with this energy if we directed it toward one building.

Please join us.

PS. This Saturday, we are launching our work parties again. Start time: 9am at Allen. Lunch provided. Hope to see you there.

Sincerely,
Roger Schmidt

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Thank you to Martin Enterprises for installing new gutters on Sweetland!

Alaska Airlines, Alaska Computer Center, Alaska Marine Lines, Allen Marine, Angling Unlimited, Inc., Anthony's Flooring, Aurora Business Supplies, Backdoor, Baranof Chiropractic, Belly Meat, Birch Equipment, CBC Construction, Chocolate Moose, Craft Homes, ConocoPhilips, Crane Construction, Crow's Nest Art Works, Dumag Roofing, EagleWolf Electric, F. R. Bell and Associates, Inc., Fairweather Prints, First Bank, First National Bank Alaska, Fishermen's Eye, Fisherman's Quay, Foreign Automotive, F/V Coral Lee, Garden Ventures, GCI, Gordon's Mechanics, Greater Sitka Arts Council, Gurdy Docs, Heating Concepts, Holland America, Home Plus, Howard Pitts Enterprises, Jay's Tree Service, Jet Steam, Juneau Electric, KD Painting, KIFW, Larkspur Cafe, Local Machine, Ludvig's Bistro, MacIntyre Construction, Martin Enterprises, Mike's Floors, Millard and Associates Architects, LLC., Modus, Mt. Edgecumbe High School, Petro Marine, Porky's Equipment and Sales, Pizza Express, Precision Boatworks, Pundit Productions, Raven Radio, Reif Hammers and Pipes, Roy's Electric, Russell's, Russian American Co., S & S Construction, Saline Services, Schmolck Mechanical Contractors, SeaMart, Sealaska, Shaffer & Co., Shelter Cove Publishing, Sitka Bottling Company, Sitka Counseling and Prevention, Sitka Electric, Sitka Monthly Grind, Sitka Ready-Mix and Rental Equipment, Sitka Sentinel, Sitka Physical Therapy, Sitka Total Fitness, Southeast Fire Protection, Southeast Glass Company, Southeast Herring Conservation Alliance, Spenards Builders Supply, Tisher Construction, the United States Coast Guard, Venneberg Insurance, Weiland Construction, Wells Fargo, Welsh Enterprises, West-Hardwick Marine, LLC.,Westmark, White's and Harry Race Pharmacies, Wilderness Woodworks

Revitalizing the Sheldon Jackson Campus

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PO Box 3086

Sitka, AK 99835

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Thanks for the ongoing support,

Cassi Olson, Development Coordinator

Wendy Alderson, Volunteer Coordinator

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Sitka Fine Arts Camp/Sheldon Jackson Revitalization