The John Gray Challenge - Sitka's campus renovation and expansion plan
Since 1970, the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology has been providing classes and residencies that explore the relationship between art, nature and humanity. In that time thousands of students have been inspired by the natural surroundings and hundreds of artists have explored the boundaries of their own creativity.
Now the Sitka Center is in need of facilities renovation and upgrades in order to continue with its mission to expand the relationships between art, nature, and humanity.
Our Board and staff have developed a $2.1 Million comprehensive plan to manage this development and guide our growth. Your support will allow us to complete our campus infrastructure improvements and focus our energies on providing the cultural opportunities our communities have come to depend on for the past four decades.
In 2005 Oregon Philanthropist John Gray was struck by the benefit Sitka's residency program offers to artists. In order expand the scope of of the program, he committed $250,000 to help create two new residences and one new studio on the condition that the Sitka Community match his $250,000.
To date 103 people have collectively raised $250,000 to meet the $250,000 goal. This project is officially underway.
Status:
- Sitka has hired architect Jay Raskin of Cannon Beach to create the master plan and construction documents.
- Quade Construction is ready to begin construction on the two residences in October once permits are in place.
- Mike Riley of Cannon Beach has agreed to contribute landscape design services.
- The forest service and Cascade Head Ranch Homeowners will require one more review of the final plan before signing off on the project, but both have given tentative approval.
The first phase of the total renovation project will cost $690,000. The John Gray portion will get us to $500,000. We have applied for additional grants from several other foundations. In order to make this all possible Sitka needs to raise $190,000 from individuals and private donors to complete the first phase. We can do it, but we need your help.
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