Finish line in sight for Arts Center renovations | Springville Journal Despite our success with these grants the organization still has a very small operating budget and we have no means to fund this work on ticket sales or workshop fees.”

Mary Anderson, Lynne Giroux, Joanne May and Chelsea May work on the gallery railing.

The church building was first purchased in 2007 with member donations. In late 2012, after years of denials, the organization was awarded several major state matching grants, which helped push the project into construction.

Work in this phase included roof replacement, wood repair, masonry restoration, foundation work, construction of a classroom, installation of an elevator, creation of new bathrooms and renovation of the Olmsted Gallery. While most of the work has been finished, a funding gap to complete the elevator and bathrooms has prevented the new spaces from being fully occupied.

After a plywood cutting ceremony, an exhibit of photography by Richard Stamps was held in the uncompleted gallery last summer so that members could see the progress and understand the remaining work.

Improvements to the theater are planned in the future but the current renovations were limited to the exterior and south wing of the building.