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1 <br />2 <br />3 <br />4 <br />5 <br />6 <br />7 <br />8 <br />9 <br />10 <br />11 <br />12 <br />13 <br />14 <br />15 <br />16 <br />17 <br />18 <br />19 <br />20 <br />21 <br />22 <br />23 <br />24 <br />25 <br />26 <br />27 <br />28 <br />29 <br />30 <br />31 <br />32 <br />33 <br />34 <br />35 <br />36 <br />37 <br />38 <br />39 <br />40 <br />41 <br />42 <br />43 <br />44 <br />45 <br />46 <br />47 <br />48 <br />49 <br />50 <br />2 <br />Towards that end, a Steering Committee, comprised of a broad coalition from our <br />community, was formed to implement this vision. Some members of that committee are here <br />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 Whiffed 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 Whiffed 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, modem 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 />