The Dream

THE BEGINNING...

When the Arlington community passed a bond in 2000 to build the new high school, the bond did not include funding for the entire project. The school district was able to complete everything on the master plan except the Performing Arts Center.

Recognizing the need for a Performing Arts Center in our community, the School Board chose to sell some timber to build the shell of the building, and a dedicated group of supporters decided to raise the money to complete the Performing Arts Center.

The Arts Alive! Group was formed under the umbrella of the Arlington Education Foundation. Their fundraising goal — an unprecedented $2.5 million. The committee was confident that our community would recognize the cultural, economic and educational value of bringing a state-of-the-art venue to the City of Arlington.

BUILDING THE DREAM...

Northwestern Construction Company was awarded the bid to complete the lobby, dressing rooms, green room — everything but the theater itself. During this time, Arts Alive! continued to raise additional monies through major donors including a partnership with the City of Arlington which gave $500,000; grants including $375,000 from the State of Washington; plus individual seat sponsorships and purchanse of commemorative pavers.

While construction continued, so did the outpouring of community support for this project. Fundraisers like the day at Haggen Foods and "A Noteable Day" showcased local talent. Donations and supprt from local businesses and individuals in the form of auction items and in-kind donations helped to make these events a success. Countless volunteer hours were put in by a variety of people: football players, middle school students, and first-rate entertainers like David Lanz and Jeff Kashiwa.

REALIZING THE DREAM...

In early 2007, the Arts Alive! Committee was very close to reaching their goal of $2.5 million. Recognizing the rate of rapidly rising construction costs, the School Board decided to surplus and sell a small piece of property to guarantee the final construction amount and set a date for completion.

The final step began when Razz Construction Company started to complete the theater itself. This includes all the pieces that can be seen — the seats, stage floor, lighting — and the components that cannot be seen such as the sound system. This Performing Arts Center is now comparable to the best venues in the state.

Through dedication, perseverance and with the help and support of many individuals, Arts Alive! realized their goal to raise the curtain on the Performing Arts Center.