NC Arts Incubator asks for county funding

Posted Monday, May 7, 2007

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Siler City, NC - The NC Arts Incubator sent a request to the Chatham County Board of Commissioners to request funding.

April 20, 2007
P.O. Box 643
223 North Chatham Avenue
Siler City, NC 27344

Commissioner Carl Thompson
Chairman of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners
P.O. Box 1809
Pittsboro, NC 27312

Dear Commissioner Thompson,

I am writing on behalf of the Board of Directors of the NC Arts Incubator to request financial support for non-profit funding by the Chatham County Board of Commissioners. Our request for fiscal year 2007-2008 is $20,000.

The NC Arts Incubator was established in 2002 in downtown Siler City to assist artists with low-cost studio space and provide marketing classes to develop their small business skills. Currently the Arts Incubator has 22 artists working in 3 National Register
buildings creating pottery, jewelry, paintings, glass art, hooked rugs, and stained glass. We are working hard with the other downtown businesses to enhance economic development by attracting tourists and other small and art-related businesses to downtown Siler City.

We are excited about our current renovation projects. There is a multipurpose room with handicapped bathrooms that will be available for community meetings, art shows, and receptions. A parking lot will be transformed into green space with planters, tables and chairs, and a small stage for music and theater presentations. We are working with a Siler City business person through the CCCC small business program to set up a coffee shop next to our multipurpose room. We look forward to the completion of these projects because they will continue the revitalization of downtown Siler City.

We are requesting $20,000 in non-profit funds for a kiln yard for the Arts Incubator. We are in the process of purchasing a building at 229 North Chatham Avenue that will house pottery studios and Incubator gallery downstairs and other artist studios upstairs. The building comes with a parking lot next to it that would be a great location for a kiln yard with approximately 10 electric kilns. Funding from the Chatham County Commissioners for a kiln yard would enable us to attract more pottery artists as there is such a strong demand for pottery studios in Chatham County.

When this building is finished our Incubator artist base will rise to forty tenants. Your help with funding would ensure the success of our downtown revitalization project.

I would be happy to provide any other information that you might request for this funding. I have attached our 2006 Form 990 for your information.

Thank you for your support during this critical time in our development,

Cindy Edwards
Director