The Old Art Building (OAB) in Leland finalized the purchase of riverfront property adjacent to its facilities on July 31, reaching its first milestone to extend its campus with 280 feet of shoreline on the Leland River as well as adding signifi cant green space.
Now, the OAB is embarking on its public phase of a capital campaign to further fund the purchase and ultimate extension of the art center’s existing campus.
“This next phase is really taking the input that we’ve gotten from community members thus far through the conversations that we’ve had as we’ve been meeting with people through the quiet phase,” said Kerry Satterwhite, OAB board president. “Now we look at the whole picture of the two pieces of property that we now sort of see as a campus, the historical art building and the new property, and how they will work together and compliment each other.”
Satterwhite said the longtime property owners that agreed to sell to OAB, Jessica and Jennifer Lukomski, shared in the nonprofit’s vision to use the land to cultivate the arts and culture and to be accessible to the community.
“Jennifer and Jessica really wanted the property to be used for the community, and when they came to us, we were so grateful,” she said.
OAB’s Board of Directors first approved a $5.5 million capital campaign in April to purchase and improve the adjacent property at 204 Cedar Street. According to the 2024 capital campaign budget breakdown, approximately $3.2 million was anticipated to purchase the land, and $1 million will be used to build a new “art” building. Landscaping of the new grounds is estimated at $350,000, and $300,000 in funds will go towards improving the functionality of the existing OAB. About $150,000 will help to enhance the OAB lawn, walkways, and gardens. Finally, the campaign hopes to raise $500,000 to increase endowment to meet new demands.
Some of the potential elements of the new building will include arts and educational classrooms, community and gallery space, artist studio space and retreat space. In addition, the expanded green space is being planned to allow for walking paths and natural picnic areas, pollinator and perennial gardens, and outdoor classrooms. The existing 102-yearold Old Art Building will receive necessary updates including improved wayfinding, sound and lighting, safe access for all OAB visitors, and office space for staff.
“The next step is seeing us through the rest of the campaign so that we can have the funds to build the building, to add to our current endowment so we’ll be able to maintain the new property, and then we can make improvements to our existing historic building and grounds,” she said. “It’s an immediate project, but it’s also got some long term vision to it which is really exciting. It’s going to take a village to make this dream come true, so we’re looking forward to continuing to share the story.”
In a recent press release, the OAB states that the campaign’s ‘quiet’ phase has been met with overwhelming support from local benefactors and residents who recognize the importance of saving the property for community use. The “Honoring Our Past & Building Our Future” master plan committee will focus its energies going forward into site planning which includes the new building that will give the OAB the opportunity to expand programming and offer new possibilities for creating, learning, and gathering.
“Now we go to the public and appeal to really all the people who have enjoyed not only the Old Art Building and what we have to offer, but Leland, and who see this as their home community,” Satterwhite said. “This opportunity of this new property gives all of us a chance to have access to new space in town, so we’re appealing to anyone who would want to support that effort and see that happen and really bring it to life.”
For more information on OAB efforts to fundraise for the new property or to donate, go to oldartbuilding. com/ 2024- capitalcampaign/.
