An Open Letter

Concerning a Columbia County Cultural Education Center

Dear Friends & Community,

As you may be aware, the Columbia County Orchestra Association has been taking the lead in working in our community and among arts organizations and patrons to establish a Columbia County cultural/education center. What began as "growing pains" for the Civic and Youth Orchestra needing a space of our own, has developed into a great public interest to establish not only a home for the arts - including performing, visual, dance, drama, and arts education - but has further developed into tremendous interest for a cultural/education center, taking in: ecology, science, utilization of passive solar energy, the facility being a "green" facility, wetlands education, and Native Amercian studies. The scope of this project also envelopes the likes of traveling professional presentations, as well as a performance and administrative homes for several of our CSRA based arts/humanities groups.

Political leadership in Columbia County has now stated that what they perceived as a 20-25% facility usage as just a performing arts center, could very realistically become 80-90% with the science, education, and cultural elements. The facility could very possibly be in use 7 days a week. This dream has grown much larger than any one person or organization. To quote Ron Jones, Director of Columbia County Ballet: "The potential for this project to function as a community builder is unbelievable."

The total facility components are planned to be built in 4-5 phases. The 66,000 square foot facility is planned to include:

  • A 1,200-1,500 seat auditorium (for music, dance, drama, and variety shows)
  • A professional stage, with 50 foot fly loft and shop area
  • An orchestra pit to accomodate up to 50 musicians, piano and percussion equipment
  • A 10,000 square foot commons area to host receptions, dinners & gatherings, as well a gallery display area for visual art (local and traveling displays)
  • Visual art & music teaching space for afterschool, summer, and daytime instruction
  • Home for several arts organizations to rehearse & perform, including administrative space
  • A 2,400 square foot rehearsal/green room facility, that could also accomodate 200 people for small recitals
  • Dressing rooms for performers
  • A ticket office and professional catering food preparation area
  • A 3,000 seat covered amphitheater, with plans to eventually enclose and climatize it (open air sides in its initial stage)

Even though many in the community seem to desire a facility such as what we have been conceptualizing, we have maintained from the beginning that we want this community project to truly be a community project. It is not our desire to go to governmental officials for monetary help, nor are they in a position to do so. If this center is going to happen, it is up to us - the community of artists and educators in Columbia County, and the greater community of Columbia County and the CSRA.

We have established a fund for start up costs, with a goal of $100,000 to be raised between now and October 31, 2010. It is called the Overture Club. An overture is something that takes place at the beginning, before the real content of an opera or drama. There are four levels of participation in the Overture Club. They are: Over $5,000; $1,000 up to $4,999; $500 up to $999; and, $200 up to $499. Each level entitles the contributor at the corresponding level to receive PREFERRED/RESERVED seating tickets to ALL Columbia County Orchestra Association (CCOA) events for the 2010-2011 Season, an honorary listing in the CCOA program as a member of the Overture Club, AND free admission to a special CCOA reception during the season. Event listings for the 2010-2011 Season of the CCOA can be found on our website.

Our $100,000 goal with the Overture Club is for administrative costs, construction plans, and civil engineering plans, to establish a Columbia County cultural/education center. Major fundraising will take place after a location for the new center is selected AND the fundraising potential is determined after partnering with members of our community, corporate sponsors, and other philanthropic donors.

Your completed form (PDF) along with your donation can be sent to:

Columbia County Center
Box 92
Appling, GA 30802

- OR -

You may simply fill out the form and take your donation to any Queensborough National Bank & Trust. Any checks should be made out to "Columbia County Center".

You can continue to check our website after September 20, 2010 to see our updated list of events AND follow our progress with the Overture Club. If at the end of October the $100,000 goal has not been raised, ALL of the money will be returned. If this "seed account" has the support that we hope and believe it will then it will be planted to begin the work to establish a Columbia County cultural/education center. More significant capital campaigns will come later, if this "seed fund" takes root. Since the CCOA is in a position to do so, we are happy to provide "incentives" for area supporters to not only contribute, but also receive something in return for their generousity.

Thank you for your consideration of this project which could greatly benefit our community.

Sincerely,
Rob Nordan
Music/Executive Director
Columbia County Orchestra Association

Chairman
Dream Team for a Columbia County Cultural Education Center