New names announced

A new look and a new building will bring with them new names.

During a luncheon Thursday, Arts Place announced several new names for its renovated and expanded facility.

“Thank you for taking the time to help us celebrate this first big step,” Arts Place executive director Eric Rogers said to the staff, board members and supporters in attendance. “I’m looking forward to the next ones.”

“(There is) lots of new activity here, lots of new things to be excited about, including our naming,” added board president Bonnie Maitlen.

The Arts Place location in Portland will be known as the Jay County Campus of Arts Place. (The organization also has facilities in Hartford City and St. Mary’s, Ohio.)

Other new names are as follows:

•The renovated existing building — Performing Arts Center

•The new visual arts building across the street from the current facility — The Hudson Center for the Visual Arts

•The education corridor of the Performing Arts Center — The Young Music Education Wing

•The new community gallery in the Performing Arts Center — The Weaver Community Gallery

The Hudson, Young and Weaver names were selected to honor some of the major donors to Arts Place’s capital campaign for the project.

Barry and Elizabeth Hudson of Portland have given more than $500,000 toward the $2.4 million capital campaign. Barry Hudson choked back tears Thursday afternoon while explaining that his father, Fred, in the 1970s purchased the property where the visual arts building is now being completed in hopes of making it the new location of First National Bank, noting that everything seems to have come full circle.

Elizabeth Hudson referred to the naming as “humbling.”

“We were just both dumbfounded,” added Barry. “Feelings run deep and I get too emotional to talk about it.”

John and Gretchen Young have committed more than $260,000 toward the project, which includes the construction of the new visual arts building and renovations to the existing facility with structural repairs, expansion of the lobby and ticketing area, creation of additional music rehearsal space and a variety of new equipment. Their contributions included a $200,000 matching gift in November that helped push the campaign to the point that work could begin and a new $50,000 matching grant that was announced Thursday. (Thus far, Arts Place has raised almost $2.28 million toward its $2.4 million goal.)

John Young, who celebrated his 88th birthday at the event Thursday, said he appreciated how the initial gift was handled.

“It just became a very meaningful way to remember my wife,” said Young with tears in his eyes.

He explained that Gretchen, who died March 26, was an early advocate behind Arts Place executive director Eric Rogers.

“As a long-haired hippy when Eric came to town, I thought there was no way,” Young said. “But she thought there was a way.”

Mindy and Rob Weaver — Mindy was also president of the Arts Place board for most of the renovation process and served as chair of the capital campaign — kept their donation amount anonymous but noted the importance of the organization and its facilities to the community.

“The project just means a lot to me,” said Mindy Weaver. “I think it’s a valuable addition. To be able to offer more classes and more opportunities will be really nice.

“So, just to be part of that is great. To have our name on something is nice too.”

The Hudsons, Weavers and John Young all emphasized the value of the music lessons, art classes and other opportunities Arts Place provides to the community.

Construction on the renovation and expansion is expected to be complete by the end of June with only finishing touches such as painting, cleaning, equipment and signs remaining.

Arts Place plans to hold several events, including a public open house, in October to celebrate the completion of the project.

“The project is getting very close to being complete,” said Rogers. “And I just want to thank all of you for your big roles in making this project possible.”