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Arts Place nabs donation so help fund scholarships |
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Friday, 08 February 2008 |
By MARY BARGDILL
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Thanks to a new scholarship available at a local arts center, more students will be able to participate in educational programs.
Arts Place, Inc., the Collective Center, a non-profit organization located at 138 E. Spring St., St. Marys was the recipient of a $30,000 donation in conjunction with the Arts Place, Inc. of Portland, Ind.
The monetary gift was awarded by Dr. Charlene Barton, a veterinarian who resided in the Wabash, Ind. area, to support a scholarship program in memory of her deceased sister, Kathleen Galbraith, of Portland, Ind. Galbraith passed away in June of 2006.
The scholarship, Dr. G’s Memorial Scholarship Fund, will support scholarships for students who would otherwise not be able to afford the cost of participating in educational art programs at both locations of the Arts Place, Inc.
“We were pretty stunned by this. The gift came as a total surprise,” Executive Director of the Arts Place, Inc. Eric Rogers said.
Rogers said the sisters were both very much interested in the arts, especially music. Galbraith had been a supporter of the Arts Place, Inc. for several years. She also supported a program at the high school in Portland called “Dr. G’s” which dealt with real life issues teenagers faced today.
“Dr. Barton said she wanted to do it to help students,” Rogers said.
Rogers said that prior to the monetary gift, their organization only averaged between $2,500 and $5,000, not nearly enough to support much needed scholarships.
“Having adequate scholarship funds for Arts Place has been a real challenge in recent years. We have a very pressing need for that,” Rogers said.
Due to limited funds available for scholarships, $5,000 of the donation from Barton was made available immediately until funds run out. Income from the endowment fund will be used to generate annual scholarships that will be awarded based on income.
Center Director for Arts Place, Inc., the Collective Center Heidi Steinke Meade said she was thrilled with the gift.
“This is pretty exciting because this is the first time we’ve had a scholarship available here as well,” Steinke Meade said. “A lot of people have been a little reluctant to sign up for classes. I have a few students (children) who are amazing who are not able to take classes because of finances. I have a few adults who need a little extra help.”
Arts Place, Inc., the Collective Center, currently serves approximately 35 students with classes offered are for beginners. While many students are from St. Marys, others hale from New Bremen, Minster, Celina and Fort Recovery.
“We are a regional arts center,” Steinke Meade said.
Currently, three educational programs are offered through Arts Place Inc., the Collective Center, of which approximately 1,000 students participated in the programs during the past year.
Music Works offers instruction in piano for students of all ages.
“We just hired a new (music) instructor, so we’re hoping to expand,” Steinke Meade said.
In the Innovations program, students learn about visual arts, such as painting, ceramics, belly dancing and drawing.
The Arts in the Parks program is offered for children during summer months.
Registration deadline is March 10 for classes that begin on April 1.
Anyone interested in applying for a scholarship for classes at the Arts Center Ic., the Collective Center, may pick up a registration form at the center in St. Marys, e-mail them at
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or call 419-394-0707.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 12 February 2008 )
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