Library board president: Batesville Arts and Innovation Hub open, under budget and free to the public

Mark Stinganger, president of the Batesville Memorial Public Library Board of Trustees, briefed the Franklin County Council on the new Batesville Arts and Innovation Hub and invited council members and constituents to visit.

"I'm the president of the Batesville Memorial Public Library Board of Trustees," Mark said. He reported the Arts and Innovation Hub opened last month, was completed on time and under budget, and received more than $2 million from the Ready 2.0 grant. He emphasized the facility is open to everyone: "You do not have to live in the city of Batesville to use the arts and innovation hub. You do not have to have a library card to use the arts and innovation hub. It is free and open for anyone to use."

Mark described available services: a recording studio for musicians, prototyping equipment for entrepreneurs, sewing machines and laser cutters for fabric and maker projects, theater and concert space, and meeting rooms for up to 200 people. He also explained a "living room" space adjacent to a small, noncommercial kitchen that can provide private space for supervised visits ordered by courts — a need he said the hub fills for families who previously had no private space for those visits.

Council members asked about utilization and the kitchen; Mark said demand has been high, with reservations made even before opening. Members thanked him for his leadership on the board and for bringing the project to fruition.

The council received the update as an information item; no funding request to the council was made in this presentation.