Published: February 03, 2009 01:48 pm      

Arts Center can become less dependent on tax dollars

The editor:

As a board member of the Morehead - Rowan County Arts Promotion Foundation Center, I would like to extend my appreciation to all those who have provided the financial support to restore and preserve our Historical landmark, the old Rowan County Courthouse. Many of us fondly remember the days when it was the Heart and Center of town and was alive with activities and a place where the rural county residents would come and sit on the benches on the courthouse lawn. I remember the gathering of friends and neighbors to catch up on the news and perhaps even talk a little politics. This was a place which provided a warm and friendly atmosphere for our community.

Thanks to Daniel Boone Caudill who had served our District (Rowan, Bath, Montgomery and Menifee counties) as Circuit Judge from 1933 to 1939. His children and grandchildren honor his memory and service to this community by awarding generous grants to restore the failing structure to near its original grandeur in 1899. The restoration project was made possible through the grant of one million dollars from the W. Paul and Lucille Caudill Little Foundation with matching funds from Rowan County Fiscal Court.

The W. Paul and Lucille Caudill Little Foundation awarded a second grant in the sum of $80,000 to purchase needed items necessary for the Center to function as an Art Center.

The charitable donations of this community and the volunteerism of our local citizens show our appreciation for this Center. Even those who have relocated far from Morehead have shared in the contribution to the Center. The heart of any community lies in the music, plays and art and we are fortunate to have all these talents in our town.

This cultural responsibility is made possible with our TAX dollars channeled through our City and County Administrations. The ongoing expense to keep this center open is tremendous.

Let us give great recognition and appreciation to our County Judge Executive, Jim Nickell, Fiscal Court and the City of Morehead with approval of the Mayor and City Council.

The City of Morehead has provided $10,000 for 2007 and $10,000 for 2008 which was given to the county to help support the center.

In May 2007, Morehead Tomorrow (through the Renaissance Ky. Program) gave $150,000 to help the county with the second loan of $675,000 necessary to finish the remodeling of the building. This loan, added to the $1,000,000 matching funds for the Caudill Little Grant made the county debt $1,675,000.

For the year 2007 the county expenditures for the Rowan County Arts Center for Utilities, Insurance, Alarms, Elevator, Fire extinguishers, and including payments on the Principal and interest on the $1,675,000 loans totaled $165,321.28.

For the year 2008 the Rowan County expenditures for the Arts Center totaled $170,627.36

The Arts Center’s Director, Rhonda Bailey is to be commended for the fine job she is doing. Her salary does not cover all the volunteer time she gives to the center. Anita Rummage is another one who donates many, many hours arranging and hanging the exhibits. We have many community volunteer workers that make it possible to keep the Center open.

There are three studio rentals at $250 per month. This includes all their utilities, display areas, and access to the gallery. Studio one has five artists with each paying $50 per month. Studio two has three tenants at $83.33 each. Studio three has two tenants at $125 each.

There are two studio rentals in the basement at $200 per month. One of them has two tenants, each paying $100.

Additional income is received as the Art Center accepts donations and collects fees from activities which occur at the Center.

I do not have access to the monetary amounts they collect, however, I understand it will eventually be used to help the Art Center to become less dependent on our tax dollars.



Christine Barker

Morehead