A project to build an arts center in a South Coast community has hit a huge milestone. Boosters of efforts to expand the Carpinteria Arts Center have not only met their $3.1 million goal, they exceeded it by $300,000.
The current center is a tiny cottage with a large yard on Linden Avenue in downtown Carpinteria. The non-profit bought a restaurant next to the existing center, and is remodeling the facility.
Executive Director Rebecca Stebbins says they received donations from five dollars to a million dollars. And, she says everyone from architects to contractors have been donating services. Stebbins says the contributions even included some museum quality lighting from the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, which removed part of its lighting as part of a remodeling project. Saturday night, the center will host a celebration of the successful fundraising drive.
Plans call for the new facility to be completed next spring. The hope is that it will be not just an arts center, but become a hub for activities as a community center.
