19 hours Ago
Members of the Mount Pleasant Community Arts Center Committee and the broader arts community continued discussions about developing a new performing arts center during a meeting on Oct. 15. They shared their opinions on topics such as the location, funding and intended uses for the space with a panel of Town officials who convened at Wando Library.
While there is not a set timeline yet, officials hope to have the temporary space operational by the end of the first quarter of next year. The space, located on Johnnie Dodds Blvd in the ALDI shopping center, is approximately 9,000 square feet. How this area will be divided to meet the community's needs is a key topic of interest.
“Ideally, this is going to be a multi-use space,” said Keely Enright, the newly appointed operator of the art center. She further explained that the space is expected to accommodate at least 200 people in a seated theater with movable chairs. Along with Enright, the panel included Councilmember Laura Hyatt, Recreation Department Director Steve Gergick and Economic Development Officer Matt Brady.
During the Q&A, it was evident that there is still a long way to go regarding development. In fact, the lease for the new performing arts center remains unsigned, even though the location has been identified for months. The Town is considering a seven-year lease for the space.
“We’re in the process of working through it. Paperwork back and forth,” said Brady. He and the panel emphasized that ample work remains even once the envelope is sealed.
“We have got a lot of design work to do — evaluation, engineering and making sure we are being good stewards of the taxpayers' dollars as we build this thing. But we’ll get there,” added Brady. Enright concurred with these ideas, saying they were “top of mind.
" She also confirmed that the venue will ideally serve alcoholic beverages. Townspeople and officials alike shared their visions for the space, emphasizing the need for handicap accessibility and proper sound and lighting setups. Despite providing some clarity, there was confusion among audience members regarding operational costs, particularly concerning rental fees for community groups.
Many expressed concerns that the space should be fully publicly funded, and free to use. “The building, and any upkeep of it, is being covered by the Town,” said Gergick. “After that, Keely will be operating it and will need it to be self-sufficient with fees that she charges to other groups or productions.
” While this upset some audience members, others, like Seaside Singers Community Choir Board Member Carol Hallman, defended the Town. “There are only two churches in the whole town of Mount Pleasant that will allow us to use their facility,” said Hallman. “We pay each of those churches for use of their facility, so groups are not expecting to come in and feed at the town's trough without contributing anything.
” Hallman emphasized that paying for a venue is not new and that all her choir wants is a decent place to perform. She went on to praise the council’s work, earning a round of applause from the audience Many members of the arts community seek complete public support similar to the funding and support given to sports, which also falls under the Town’s Recreation Department. However, as audience members conceded toward the end of the meeting, this center represents a promising start.
Town Councilmember John Iacafano explained that the center has been in discussion for some time, and this initial project presents an opportunity to jump in feet first and learn along the way. “It would be really, really cool to build a 10 million dollar building right now for the arts. Except, we’re not 100 percent sure,” says Iacafano.
“Is it going to work?” He added that the council is just beginning to pave the way for the center and that in a few years, he hopes to apply what is learned from the temporary space to have more informed discussions on how to best support the Mount Pleasant arts community..
