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CAT Provides Big Boost for Small Arts Organizations
The Clear Lake Arts Center is celebrating the recent award of $300,000 Community Attraction Tourism (CAT) grant by the Vision Iowa Board. Although the grant is one-fourth the funds needed to complete the Art Center’s building project, more than $600,000 has already been raised.
“We are pleased that the CAT reviewers recognized the broad benefits that a new Clear Lake Arts Center will bring to the community,” said CLAC President Kristen Charlson. “This is a significant step in our being able to realize our mission of inspiring and enriching the lives of community’s citizens and visitors via arts programming.”
Iowa’s CAT grant program falls under the umbrella of the Vision Iowa program administered by the Iowa Department of Economic Development. Vision Iowa supports creative projects that enhance the lives of Iowans throughout the state and support visionary thinking. One-third of CAT grant funds are designated specifically for communities with populations below 10,000.
The Clear Lake Arts Center is now faced with raising the final $344,000 needed for the project before the grant will be received. Still, the new Arts Center, to be housed in a renovated former bank building, aims to provide visitors and visiting artists with the latest technology.
“Many people who have toured the building and viewed our plans are particularly excited about the proposed technology studio,” Charlson said. “They realize the importance of computer literacy in the 21st century, whether shooting photos with a digital camera, or laying out a letter and photos for a holiday greeting.”
Since its inception in 2000, the Vision Iowa Board has only approved six projects belonging to arts organizations, including Clear Lake Arts Center:
• Performing Arts & Education Center, Red Oak, $1 million (2004).
• Lakes Art Center/Performing Arts Theatre and Interactive Gallery, Okoboji,
$250,000 (2002)
• Southern Iowa Art and Heritage TREC, Graceland University, $250,000 (2002)
• Meredith Willson Performing Arts Center, Mason City, $675,000 (2002)
• Maquoketa Fine Arts Center, Maquoketa, $143,649 (2001)
The CAT program receives $12 million annually to fund projects. To date, the
program has assisted 216 projects and awarded more than $67 million.
