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Friends of the Proposed Fox Performing Arts Center Pledge to Help Revitalize Community/Host "Celebrate the Arts"

Friends of the Proposed Fox Performing Arts Center Pledge to Help Revitalize Community/Host "Celebrate the Arts"

 

As a member of the Fox Performing Arts Center Team, I wanted to share some wonderful news about the future renovations planned for the old Ace Hardware Building in West Dundee, written by Liana Allison.  This performing arts center will serve West Dundee and all the surrounding areas. Here is the latest press release from the Team.

July 3, 2012…West Dundee, IL… “Never under estimate the power of a few committed people to change the world” . . . especially if those people happen to have a flair for the dramatic! 

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Friends of West Dundee’s proposed Fox Performing Arts Center--including local business leaders, neighbors, thespians, musicians and arts patrons--organized to meet the Village’s request to demonstrate local support for the creation of a state-of-the-art, 258-seat performing arts facility.  To date, Friends of the Fox have secured over $100,000 in pledges and donations, as well as hundreds of petition signatures toward the Village of West Dundee’s August 12th deadline.

“The Village of West Dundee and surrounding communities’ response has been extremely positive and very validating,” reports West Dundee architect and Fox Performing Arts Center visionary Rick Browne.  “Everyone sees the need and potential of the arts center as a catalyst for economic redevelopment, a cultural hub offering life enrichment for the residents of the northwest suburbs and the tipping point toward continued revitalization that our community needs.”

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The proposed site for the performing arts center is the former Ziegler Ace Hardware building located at 118 South First Street, West Dundee, which Browne calls the perfect footprint and location.  The Clearwater, a vacant movie theater, was also considered, however the building’s size and location presented several drawbacks for repurposed, live performance use.

In addition to offering semi-equity and community theater productions, The Fox would be a venue-of-choice available to local dance companies, choir and chamber programs, K-12 educational theater and other art showcases.

"The addition of the Fox Performing Arts Center would not only bring new people to the downtown to support our existing businesses, but would repurpose an existing building and demonstrate continued development of the Arts in our community," Rebecca Gillam, West Dundee Village Trustee.

Area residents agree.  “I don’t want to see my town become the next Detroit,” says West Dundee resident Mary Rimm.  “I want to see this community excited and revitalized! I see the Fox Performing Arts Center as a place we can gather, make a second home, and most importantly, be proud of.”

In addition to gathering petition signatures and pledges at summer events and online, Friends of the Fox will host “Celebrate the Arts” on Friday, August 10 at 6:30pm at OTTO Engineering, 11 West Main Street, Carpentersville.  The event will feature heavy hors d'oeuvres, bar and eclectic entertainment that celebrates the performing and visual arts.  Tickets for the event are $25 per person or $85 for four, include food and beverage and are available online at www.foxartscenter.com.  Corporate table sponsorships are also available.

 “There are just so many reasons to celebrate the arts and support the Fox project,” says Friends of the Fox organizer, musician and Algonquin resident Heidi Kern.  “My greatest hope is that this project will further awaken the aesthetic sensibility of our community, create synergies among local artists and provide a creative outlet for a wider population.”

For more information about the proposed Fox Performing Arts Center, an online petition, tickets to the Celebrate the Arts August 10th event and to pledge your support visit www.FoxArtsCenter.com.

Fox Facts

The goal.

The goal is to provide a high quality performing arts venue for community and semi-equity theater, dance, film productions and children’s performing arts education while further jump-starting a community revitalization.

Why invest in the arts?

There are just so many reasons. The arts bring joy. They teach empathy. They create community. They offer clarity. They inspire hope. They awaken our aesthetic sensibilities. They make us think. In short: Invest in the arts because we all need a lot more of that good stuff!

Community revitalization.

The Fox Performing Arts Center promises to be a catalyst for economic redevelopment, a cultural hub that offers life enrichment and the tipping point toward continued community revitalization.

The schedule.

Step 1: meet $.5M fundraising goal/demonstrate community support by August 12, 2012.

Step 2: create final designs, raise $1M by August 2013 and book 2014 season.

Step 3: build the building, reach $1.8M fundraising goal and open Spring 2014

Why an old hardware building?

The Ziegler Ace Hardware building is the perfect footprint and spot. We also considered the current abandoned movie theater in town, but it is just that—a movie theater, not a performing arts center. It is too small and land- (and river-) locked. It also presents several other drawbacks for it to be a viable option for supporting our goals.

Sustainability.

The Fox project proposes the re-use of an existing infrastructure and is scheduled to be LEED-certified.

What about parking?

Currently there is ample parking for the downtown uses. Parking lots don’t draw patrons, exciting venues and experiences do. This facility will provide the stimulus to plan for future additional parking as the need arises.

What can I do?

We’re so glad you asked! Be a visionary “Friend of the Fox.” Please show your support by spreading the word, volunteering, signing our petition and making a tax deductible pledge (here or on-line at www.foxartscenter.com) and following us on Facebook.

Fox Performing Arts Center

118 S. First Street, West Dundee, Il 60118

630-514-4833

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