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Stonegate Arts & Education Center reports increased bookings, classes and grant pursuits
Summary
Stonegate staff reported higher January–February revenues from General Motors trainings, new paid arts and workforce classes, ongoing sponsorships and pending grant requests (including a $30,000 Old National Foundation request); they also outlined collaborations with IU School of Public Health and plans tied to Bedford's 250th celebration.
Linda delivered the Stonegate Arts & Education Center update to the council, summarizing revenue and programming through January and February and describing partnership and fundraising efforts.
She said the center has seen increased bookings, including trainings from General Motors that have bought 16 weeks of space. Stonegate introduced paid classes this year, including a six-week keyboard class that generated $1,000 and both youth and adult lessons. Linda said a local rock club gave $750 this year (up from $500 previously) and that United Way has committed sponsorship funds, though some payments were not yet received and therefore not reflected in cash-on-hand.
Stonegate board members are developing sponsorship levels to approach businesses and have submitted a $30,000 request to the Old National Foundation to continue initiatives started under a previous ROI grant. Linda said staff are also working with the IU School of Public Health to pilot free grant-support services (evaluation and grant-writing help) available on the fourth Friday of each month.
Planned programming includes summer camps (some in partnership with Ivy Tech) and a theatrical production tied to the city’s 250th celebration, as well as a potential quilts-of-valor display. Linda noted the center has seen days with heavy usage (an estimated ~70 people on a typical day in the report packet, and perhaps closer to 100 when including other activities) and is pursuing roughly $70,000 in grants over multiple years to help sustain operations and balance community-service use with operating costs.
Council members and staff discussed outreach to publicize new classes; Linda said Stonegate uses Facebook, school email lists, and community postings and continues to seek broader publicity channels.
