The Creekside Cultural Center is a gathering place based on the tenets of the Chautauqua movement - our mission is to address a variety of needs by providing educational, cultural, spiritual, and recreational programming for the broader community.
Overview:
The center is located in the lovely town of Lenhartsville, PA, on the banks of the Maiden creek. Surrounded by farmland and rolling hills, the town is a typical country village with a small general store, two restaurants, a beauty parlor, and a gas station. Within a 15-20 minute drive there are attractions ranging from two steam train lines, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, The Appalachian Trail, Kutztown University, numerous art galleries, two movie theaters, innumerable antique and handcraft stores, a farmers market, Cabella's, state game lands, several very interesting festivals and other seasonal events, and much more.
The Market and the Solution:
The income level of the general area is of an average income of 75,000 a year, and average educational level of a bachelors degree or higher. In the 1940s and 50s this was a prime vacation retreat location. Recently the Maiden Creek Motel (formerly Kirchner's Red and White vacation cottages) which is just across the creek from this property has come under agreement with a developer who plans to restore the buildings and create small boutique style shops. Suburban spread is growing rapidly in this direction, and several state routes pass through the area, creating a major economic revival along this corridor. Lenhartsville is poised to take advantage of the new interest in tourism, and looks forward to becoming a "hub" where people from other small towns come on the way to and from nearby metropolitan areas. Perhaps, becoming a tourist destination in it's own right. Currently, there are no similar businesses in the area.
The center will leverage this growth opportunity to draw local and tourist business into Lenhartsville on a daily basis. The center will host services for each demographic in the area, aimed at creating a sense of communty and meeting the needs of the individuals as well as the population as a whole. These programs will take place on both floors of the historic bank barn, part of the original farmstead built by one of the founding families of the town over 175 years ago. The property includes the original farm house, which will be rented to tenants for the first phase of program development, but will eventually be designated for a full time director. There is also a summer cottage, which initiallywill house a part time director, and eventually will house guests or speakers/performers from out of town. The upstairs of the barn will be space for casual gathering, musical and speaking engagements, open mic events, and receptions or business meetings. It will include a gallery space with displays from local artists, a cafe counter serving drinks and baked goods during performances (and if approved later, will also serve soups, salads, and breads) and seating areas facing a small raised platform for performers and speakers. The downstairs will be child and small group centered and will contain the kitchen as well as provide meeting space for the 4H club and other after-school activities for local school aged children and teens, a mothers and preschoolers playgroup, and support group meetings in a more living room like atmosphere. Two events or more per week will be recorded and podcasted via our website to the broader region, providing exposure for local speakers, musicians and artists; and drawing an audience from out of town into the area for cultural fulfillment. It will also provide for educational needs for an audience unable to come to the physical location.
Timeline:
The first year of operation will include progams upstairs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday each week. These activities will include open mic nights, speakers on educational, political, historic and other topics, a variety of concert artists in different genres ,a "Kids Club" with nature, art, and music activities , and a monthly "members select" event free to members and ticketed to others. The space will be available to rent at other times for group and individual events and meetings.
By the end of the first year we hope to complete renovations to the upstairs and downstairs, allowing usage of both floors on a daily basis, with added programs as determined by member interests and community needs. The majority of programming will continue to be on the weekends until the demand is great enough to warrant being open all week. Once we reach the third phase of development with 7 day operation, activities for mothers with their preschoolers during the week, extended "field trips" to other locations including organized weekend trips, and nationally known speakers, artists, and performers will be added to the activities available.
Physical Plant Improvements:
The project will be developed in three phases, each using Brown House Consulting and Contracting for the consultation, design, and supervision of the project, and making use of supplemental volunteer labor. Dan Brown specializes in environmentally friendly design, including solar and radiant heat.
Phase 1 would include everything needed to begin weekend programming. The barn will need approximately $15,000 of improvements for a bathroom and food service sinks and a new entrance door, as well as wood stove and electric baseboard heating system. $35-40,000 additional funding will be needed for the second and third phases of development. This will go to build stairs inside, repair one part of the downstairs stone wall, install heat, add insulation and windows on both floors, as well as purchase additonal lighting, a projector and screen, and a P.A. system for the stage area. The timeline of these additional phases will depend on the interests and choices of the members and donors.
Structure and Organization:
Creekside is applying for 501(c)3 status and intends to operate as a non-profit corporation. There will be a board of directors which will consist of a president, a secretary, and a director. All members will have equal rights to that of the board members in the government of the organization, and all meetings will be conducted in a quaker-style consensus based "one no vote" manner.