The Belton Center for the Arts has embarked on a capital campaign to restore a new facility to accommodate a larger audience.  Arts are fundamental to quality of life, education, and economic development.  The Center showcases visual arts and fine craftsmen throughout the year.  The gallery, designed for multi-use will be the areas paramount exhibition space with appropriate lighting and room to exhibit a variety of art.

Since the inception of Belton Center for the Arts in 1999, the center has had such extremely good response that it has outgrown the current facility.  The current building was donated to the community of Belton by Kitt Booker, a cousin to the late Annie Lou Russell, and Belton residents Dick and Sandra Gaillard.  Due to this generous donation, the sale of the building has afforded the purchase of a new facility.

The center is responsible for numerous visitors from all over the State that would never have visited Belton.  This renovation project will ensure that the Belton Center for the Arts remains the treasured community resource and valued cultural organization this community deserves.  The art center has had a tremendous effect on the revitalization of the downtown square.

The campaign, which targets corporate donations as well as grass-roots giving, will raise an additional $145,000 to convert the new building located at 306 City Square into a state-of-the art center.  Immediate renovations include electrical upgrades, lighting, walls, painting, kitchen, and refinishing the hardwood floors.  Phase Two will include renovations upstairs for studios, a permanent gallery, stairs and restrooms.  The Board of Directors has raised approximately $275,000 toward the initial goal of $420,500 through the sale of our current building, grant monies, accommodations tax, City of Belton donations, fundraisers and personal donations.  Contributors have the opportunity to support the capital campaign in a wide variety of levels.  Donors will be contributing not only to a widely respected arts organization within the community; but to the preservation of a historic property. 

Capital Campaign Update (September 2008)

Starting in 2007, The Belton Center for the Arts launched a capital campaign to raise funding for the purchase of a larger facility and to compensate for the renovations of that building.  Since then we have purchased the new building and paid for renovations to the downstairs.

Renovations to the upstairs of the building have begun and should be complete within the next several months.  Those renovations will include the addition of a bathroom, a large classroom, a storage room and gallery space for the art center's permanent collection.  In the gallery, covered panels will be hung for artwork presentation and gallery lighting will be installed.  The classroom will be a large space, with enough room to hold all our art supplies and accommodate a class of 30-40 students.  Previously, our class size had been limited to 15-20 students due to the lack of adequate space.  The clerestory windows, as well as all other windows, will need to be replaced.  Below the clerestory a balcony railing and skylight will be constructed, opening up to the first floor.  Also, the hardwood floors will be refinished and the staircase will be made more structurally sound.  Various electrical and lighting fixtures will be installed.  Lastly, a new heating and air system will be purchased and installed.  The estimated cost for these renovations is $120,000.

The Belton Center for the Arts board of directors and staff would like to express their sincere appreciation to the many people who contributed financially.  To date, the personal contributions made to the art center total $64,666.  The balance of the funds have come from grant awards and fundraising efforts.  Overall, the newly renovated building will increase awareness of the arts by allowing space for more artwork to be displayed; bringing in more participants to gallery exhibits; encouraging more students to attend art classes and giving artists space to sell their artwork.

Naming Opportunities

Wall of Honor

$20,000     

$10,000     

• To restore and improve the new facility and to make it accessible, comfortable and safe for all visitors
• To add dedicated gallery space to better promote the arts and attract new audiences
• To increase the number of art classes offered for children and adults
• To provide the community a rental facility that is appropriate from small gathering to elaborate affairs
• To provide studio space for artists to work in a professional environment

Capital Campaign
Financial Details of Funds Raised and Needed

Checks for contributions to support the Capital Campaign for the Belton Center for the Arts should be made payable to:  Belton Center for the Arts.  For your convenience, a Capital Campaign Donation Form may be completed online.  Please include your name, address, day &/or night phone numbers, FAX, and E-Mail Address; and mail to:

Belton Center for the Arts
PO Box 368
Belton, SC 29627

Capital Campaign Donation Form