The Missouri Western State University Arts Society has donated $32,000 to the Potter Hall project for renovations and repairs. The funding they raised came directly from their membership dues in 2015, Missouri Western’s centennial year.
“We’re very grateful to members of the Arts Society for this gift,” said Dr. Bob Willenbrink, founding dean of Missouri Western’s School of Fine Arts. “These people give generously of their time and of their financial resources to help make sure the arts continue to flourish at Missouri Western. Their support of the Potter Hall project means so much to our students, faculty, staff and patrons.”
The Arts Society began in 2011 with a dedicated group of individuals who were passionate about supporting the arts at Missouri Western. Since then, membership has grown to 190 individuals. Each year, members contribute membership dues to fund faculty and student projects and supplement the budgets of the departments in the School of Fine Arts. Prior to this year, the Arts Society has allocated nearly $75,000 to purchase supplies and equipment, scholarships, production assistance for major shows and more.
In 2015, the Arts Society agreed that the membership dues would be designated to the Potter Hall project, one of the components of the Centennial Capital Campaign. The $32,000 contribution is the largest allocation in the history of the organization.
“Students from across the country have discovered that a Missouri Western arts degree will help them succeed, and those students need adequate space to create, rehearse, perform and display their work,” said Allison Stewart, Arts Society chair.
Potter Hall houses the School of Fine Arts, which includes the Department of Music; the Department of Cinema, Theatre and Dance; and the Department of Art. The building was under construction when Missouri Western moved to its current campus in 1969 and was completed in 1971. Within a few years, faculty members and students had already outgrown the space.
An addition in 1986 helped alleviate the problem, but enrollment in the arts programs has continued to grow – the number of students in the School of Fine Arts has increased 67 percent just since 2007.
Immediate facility needs include increased practice, classroom and rehearsal space, graphic design labs, a black box theater and natural-light studios. A more long-range need is for additional performance space, gallery and lobby space.
For more information about the Potter Hall project, visit www.missouriwestern.edu/campaign/our-vision/potterhall/. For information about joining the Missouri Western Arts Society, visit their website at www.missouriwestern.edu/foundation/arts-society/ or contact Rachel Graves, development officer, at rgraves@missouriwestern.edu or 816-271-5920.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.