THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS...

The Center is designed to serve and enrich Southwest Iowa by proclaiming a belief in a healthy, prosperous future and celebrating the quality of life in our region. The Center will be a place where people and ideas come together to:

• honor our regional heritage
• celebrate the present
• and create the future

It will:

• Nurture the artistic development of regional arts organizations by providing affordable and inspiring space for community based arts activities
• Establish collaborative partnerships with Southwest Iowa school districts to provide enriching arts educational experiences for students in the area
• Offer educational opportunities for all ages, through partnerships with regional educational institutions
• Develop programming partnerships with the finest arts organizations in the region
• Present touring theatre, music and dance productions form throughout the Midwest
• Emphasize being a stimulus for human development and human capital which is a key determinant of the region's economic vitality, as well as providing an additional regional tourist and visitor destination.
• Contribute to the region's quality of life attributes by making communities more attractive and providing for diversification of opportunities within the region.
• Assure audience comfort and enjoyment
• Provide lobby gallery space to showcase the work of regional visual artists
• Retain and attract young families to live and work in Southwest Iowa

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT...

Southwest Iowa is a region rich in tradition, steeped in the values of rural and small town life and dedicated to building a strong future. While each community in Southwest Iowa is unique and has its own priorities and opportunities, the essentially rural nature of these communities coupled with strong roots to the past are common threads throughout the region. Leadership in the area recognizes four common concerns that the Center will emphasize:

• Building and maintaining community assets that will attract and retain younger families in the region
• Providing opportunities for people of all ages to participate in the performing arts
• Diversify economic development in the region
• Increasing cultural diversity

Community performing arts are strong in Southwest Iowa. The Center is envisioned as a place to celebrate Southwest Iowa, its heritage and its people, by providing access for a variety of community uses including:

• Community theatre productions
• Music recitals and dance performances
• Lectures and meetings
• Business meetings and conferences
• Community festivals and cultural celebrations
• Fundraisers to support local non-profit organizations
• Civic award and celebration activities

THE ARTS...

A Place To Shine

Southwest Iowa is rich in artistic talent that will have a home at the new Center. Organizations such as Clarinda Community Theatre, Glenwood's Learning Through Drama, Grist Mill Community Theatre, Mills Masquers, Red Oak Community Playhouse, Shenandoah Music Association, Touchstone, Villisca Community Theatre and numerous others will have the option of presenting their productions on the stage of the new Center.

With the opportunity to perform in a state-of-the-art venue, these organizations will be able to attract new audiences and outstanding guest artists. Collaboration between organizations will create exciting new possibilities for both artists and audiences.

The Center Presents

As a regional resource, the Center will collaborate with existing presenters such as local arts councils and schools to bring the finest possible entertainment to Southwest Iowa including:

• Performing arts organizations from throughout the Midwest
• Regional festivals
• Children's theatre and family presentations
• College and university touring productions
• Film Festivals
• Lectures

THE CHILDREN...

For many, the most important question is, what will the Center provide for our young people? This is a top priority and the Center's Board of Directors takes its responsibility to future generations seriously.

In order to accomplish this goal and to assure that the entire region is best served, collaborations are being formed with the local educational and arts institutions. The possibilities for cooperation under this structure are exciting and will open new vistas for serving Southwest Iowa young people, kindergarten through college. One of the goals is to use the combined resources of the Center and local educational institutions to assure new learning opportunities and affordable prices for school performances.