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tonight. These groups represent the interests of historic Hillsborough, business leaders, the <br /> arts community, tourism, education, and native culture. This amazingly broad coalition feels <br /> strongly that the Whitted building could serve as the much-needed cultural center for the benefit <br /> of our entire community, both culturally and economically. Nonprofit arts and culture <br /> organizations do more than enrich our lives and imaginations. They also help fuel the region's <br /> economic engine. We have provided you with comprehensive studies that prove that the <br /> community investments in the arts bring a three to one return on the investment. <br /> The groups on the steering committee that are working to create a cultural center for <br /> Hillsborough and northern Orange County, in addition to the arts council, include: <br /> - Orange County Community Players <br /> - The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough and its member organizations <br /> - The Hillsborough Tourism Board <br /> - The Historical Foundation of Hillsborough and Orange County <br /> - The Orange County Arts Commission <br /> - Culture Zone <br /> - Orange County Artist Guild <br /> - Orange County Department of Human Rights and Relations <br /> - The Occanneechi-Saponi Tribe <br /> - The Friends of Orange County Public Library <br /> - Arts Advocates, Inc. <br /> - More groups will be added soon, representing parks and recreation and education <br /> This vibrant coalition of organizations are dreaming of a cultural center that could <br /> provide: <br /> - A performance center <br /> - Art galleries <br /> - Historical Archives <br /> - Arts programming for adults and children <br /> - A space for local drama group as well as business convention usage <br /> The final use of the Whitted building is to be determined. The need for a community <br /> cultural center is absolute. Thank you for your time." <br /> Deryl McGuire was representing the Orange Community Players as the Artistic Director. <br /> She read a prepared statement: "This was the auditorium of Hillsborough High School, with a <br /> large stage and seating for about 300 people. Plays, concerts, variety shows, school <br /> assemblies, recitals, speakers, and many other events were enjoyed in that space for many <br /> years. <br /> Visualize the Orange Public Library— rows of shelves, filled with books, lowered <br /> ceilings, modern lighting, tables; chairs filled with adults, teenagers, youth, and children. This is <br /> a place to learn, share, discover, experience, exchange, cultivate, and provide cultural <br /> opportunities for our community. <br /> As we all know, the Orange Public Library is going to a beautiful new home, leaving a <br /> wonderful space —a space that can be filled with a large stage, and seating for 150-300 people <br /> to enjoy all the events that were once the center point of Hillsborough. Imagine community <br /> theatre, youth/children theatre, musical concerts, new works presented by talented artists, <br /> writers of this wonderful community, visiting artists, and many other events—something for <br /> everyone. <br /> Let us and generations to come 'Inherit the Future' with such a center." <br />