Strosacker Foundation Gift Supports Heritage Center Enhancements
Major facility upgrades and equipment enhancements to The Oscar E.
Remick Heritage Center for the Performing Arts at Alma College soon
will become reality thanks to a $313,000 gift from The Charles J.
Strosacker Foundation in Midland.
Originally built in 1993, The Heritage Center is the College’s primary
public artistic performance venue. It comprises Presbyterian Hall, a
500-seat concert hall that is home to the Alma Symphony Orchestra,
Dance Company, Percussion Ensemble, Choirs and Jazz Band; and a
170-seat theatre with scene and costume shops, dance studio and
dressing rooms.
The Heritage Center also is used for speakers, political debates,
student recitals, school workshops, alumni and prospective student
activities, community meetings and Highland Festival events.
“We are very impressed with Alma’s performing arts center and the
educational opportunities that Alma College offers to its students,”
said Bobbie Arnold, chief executive officer and president of The
Charles J. Strosacker Foundation. “It’s a wonderful facility. We are
pleased to be among the College’s current supporters.”
In recognition of the gift, Alma College will rename the Heritage
Center Theatre as The Charles J. Strosacker Foundation Theatre.
The gift will ensure that the Heritage Center meets industry standards,
thereby increasing performance capabilities and enhancing the training
of students who seek careers in the performing arts, said Alma College
President Saundra Tracy.
“The upgrades that will be possible as a result of this generous gift
from The Strosacker Foundation will bring one of our premiere
facilities into the new century — technically, functionally and
aesthetically,” said Tracy. “These enhancements will ensure that the
Remick Heritage Center remains one of the best performing arts venues
in mid-Michigan.”
Specifically, the gift will be used to fund:
• lighting upgrades in the concert hall and theatre,
• a new acoustic shell in the concert hall,
• a new hardwood stage floor in the concert hall,
• new speaker clusters in the concert hall and theatre,
• carpet upgrades in the lobby, concert hall and theatre,
• a new grand drape in the concert hall and theatre, and
• seat and aisle light repairs in the concert hall and theatre.
The lighting upgrades involve replacing the entire lighting inventory
in the two performance areas with better quality, cleaner, and more
efficient light for shows. Replacing the current pine stage floor with
a new hardwood sprung floor will meet the duo needs of dance and music
performance groups.
The Charles J. Strosacker Foundation has supported Alma College
projects since the early 1970s, when the Foundation made its first gift
to the College. In 1992, the Foundation made a leadership gift for the
original construction of the Heritage Center.
“We are extremely grateful for the Foundation’s ongoing support of Alma
College and for this gift to enhance the Heritage Center,” said Tracy.
The gift enhances the College’s $35.25 million Open Windows Campaign,
which supports the strengthening of student opportunities that build on
and enhance classroom learning. To date, the campaign has raised more
than $25 million, which represents 71 percent of the fund-raising goal.
Posted: Tue, June 5th, 2007 at 10:58AM
