By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

As the Fish House Festival started to wrap up on Friday during the Lund Mania Summer Celebration, the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center soft-launched their community capital campaign, which is intended to modernize and expand the facility to better serve the region’s rural communities.

The capital campaign has a goal of $2,300,000 to be able to achieve their goals of preserving the current structure, expanding into an addition to the east, and to invest back into the community which has supported it for so long. With close to half of that total already raised, staff at the Cultural Center are eager and excited to get started on raising the remaining funding to expand their offerings for the Lakes Area and beyond.

“We’re launching the capital campaign to renovate and expand the Cultural Center,” said Director Betsy Roder at the Fish House Festival, “We know we need more space, we’re a little crowded in here today, so it’s a good day to talk about our story and we need more space so that we can continue to serve the community and support the arts and culture in this region.”

The Farmers & Merchants State Bank of NY Mills teamed up with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, Iowa and are utilizing their Community Connect Fund to help support this campaign. Through the fund, they were able to donate $500,000 to the Cultural Center’s campaign fund, nearly a quarter of the needed goal, which has already seen initial funding.

“We’ve been working really hard on this for a number of years internally,” said Roder. “And we’re really excited. Our goal is $2.3 million, so this gift really pushes this thing forward and it’s super exciting. Our hearts are full of gratitude. Thank you, this is awesome.”

The campaign comes nearly 30 years after the last remodel of the building, which took it from a liability to the thriving rural arts hub that it has become. As likely the oldest surviving building in NY Mills, the 140-year-old “Pary” building is in need of repairs, stabilization, and preserving the front facade amongst the additions and updates in store for the interior, as well as the addition on the back side.

“With nearly 30 years since the last remodel, a solid financial position, and a motivated team, the Cultural Center staff and Board of Directors have agreed now is the right time to take the next responsible step forward, securing the future of this extraordinary community resource,” reads the capital campaign case statement. “We are acting now to dream big, preserve this local landmark, and grow the nationally-renowned New York Mills Regional Cultural Center for our residents, visitors, children, families, and future generations.”

While the largest part of the campaign will go towards preservation of the current facility, a second portion of the funding will also include the addition of an approximately 32×54 building expansion on the eastern end of the building. Tentative plans for the space include an open studio on the upper level, accessible bathrooms, an addition of an elevator, and space for a coffee shop and drive through.

Portions of the campaign will also benefit the artist residency, Sculpture Park and for programs and equipment to continue to offer arts opportunities throughout the region.

Those who would like to donate can do so with cash, checks, or credit donations as well as pledges, tribute gifts, IRA minimum distributions, estate planning gifts, and however you would like to contribute. All donations are tax-deductible and online pledges and donations can be made at www.kulcher.org.