wca 40th

  • October 21, 2013
  • 419
                        
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of Wayne Center for the Arts, and it’s all thanks to a group of dedicated people who felt it was time to have an arts center. In December of 1972, Dr. Arnold Lewis, chairman of the College of Wooster art department, submitted a proposal to the then College of Wooster president J. Garber Drushal suggesting that the art department should be moved to the Severance Gymnasium, which was going to be vacated when the new Timken Gymnasium was finished in 1973. The proposal suggested that their space in Frick should be turned into a community art museum and cultural center that offer lectures and classes as well as studio space for local artists. Lewis suggested that the faculty and staff operate the facility under the direction of a community-based board. The response from the Wooster community was overwhelming, and quickly supporters of the arts rallied to get the College and the community to unite behind this project. Among the people at the forefront of this movement were Jeanne Adams, Rita Biafore, Rose Brenner, Carol Dix, Julia Fishelson, Alice Gabriel, Judy Hoover, Elaine Peterson, Shane L. Rood and Hazel Shreve. As fundraising efforts began, an unexpected windfall came in the form of a challenge grant donated by Donald and Alice Noble. The Nobles donated $13,500 with the proviso that another $13,500 be donated by the community. They had nothing to fear: By the end of the fundraising campaign $31,000 was raised. With such community support evident, the College of Wooster decided in June of 1973 to provide the space and utilities gratis, however the operations would be the sole responsibility of the community. A summer program of 12 classes, mostly for children, began immediately. In the fall of 1973 Jon Thomas was hired as the full-time Director of the Wooster Art Center and Sally Patton was named his assistant. In 1973, seventeen people were named as advisors for the Wooster Art Center: Carol Dix, J. Garber Drushal, Harold Freedlander, Alex Hoch, Mrs. Gordon Hostetler, William Jilek, Sonny Kaye, Waldo K. Landis, Clyde Miller Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Donald Noble, Dr. William Schultz, Sam Shapiro, Mayor Ray Stype, C.R. Weaver, and Robert Weiss. The new art center was well-received, and soon it looked for creative ways and places to accommodate all of its students. During the first six years the budget doubled to $54,000, membership grew and the number of classes to about 70 annually. The number of annual enrollments leveled off at about 400 in 1978. In 1976, Jon Thomas resigned as Director, and Tim Fusco took the reins. In 1979, Rick Jones was hired as the new Director and was given the daunting task of expanding services which required extra space that was in short supply According to Jones, other College facilities were used at first, but as competition for space grew, another art center location became apparent. Early on, some thought the answer to their space problems might be the empty Walnut Street School, which had stood boarded up since 1973. At the time, the building was serving as a maintenance and cold storage facility for the Wooster City School’s Board of Education. A proposal was written outlining a vision for turning the empty building and grounds into a cultural center and neighborhood park which would become an asset to the community. The building was toured, and it was learned that the Board of Education wanted to raze the school and sell the land for $200,000. The Wooster Art Center board began working on a plan to buy the building. Their gained urgency when in January of 1981, the College president sent the Art Center a letter stating that they would need to vacate their existing space by the fall of 1984. An architectural feasibility study was done in 1982, and the building was found to be sound. Plans were set in motion to raise funds for the purchase and renovation of the Walnut Street School. When the Board of Education announced that they would auction the school on June 30, 1983, a new benefactor appeared. Less than a week before the auction, Rubbermaid officials contacted the Art Center Board. Rubbermaid’s Chairman, Stanley Gault, and Treasurer, Richard Gates, outlined a plan to buy the building and give it to the Art Center. The building and grounds were purchased for $75,000, and the work of fundraising and renovation began. Sam Shapiro spearheaded the fundraising and by the campaign’s end, the community pledged $650,000 for the Art Center’s five year development plan. $50,000 was spent on new equipment. A building that had been adjacent to the Walnut Street School, formerly occupied by the TMD Division of Will-Burt, was also purchased by Rubbermaid and given to the city to create a small park. With a new space came a new name, and in October 1984, Wayne Center for the Arts opened its doors for classes. The move gave the Wayne Center twice the amount of studio space and three times the amount of floor space allowing class offerings and programs to expand. In 1993, the Children’s Chorus was started and a more formalized dance program. the Wayne Center Ballet Company (WCB), was established. WCB gave their first performance in April 23, 1994, and later that year would mount their first production of The Nutcracker. This year Wayne Center added a new program: Arts Academy, which provides a progressive course of visual arts study for Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade. The goal is to allow children get to know their class mates and teachers throughout their studies thereby allowing them to flourish in a comfortable environment. To celebrate its 40th Anniversary, Wayne Center will hold a Gala event on November 9 at Kittredge Hall at The College of Wooster. Tickets are $125 per person or $225 per couple. A meal, cash bar, live music and entertainment will be provided, and there will be no additional fundraising during the event.


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