LEHI--Ray Carter's task is no small one.
Carter, the development director of the Lehi City Arts Council, has until June 1 to raise just under $10 million if the community arts center at Thanksgiving Point is to become a reality.But Carter isn't daunted by the assignment.
"There's so much money out there," he said. "And this, unlike the Olympics, isn't something that will come and go. This world-class facility will stay, provide world-class accommodations to professional productions and be bread and butter for our kids as a permanent teaching facility."
Carter is talking about an arts center with five theaters including a black box theater, a dinner theater and a recital hall, a studio, offices, classrooms and an art gallery. The largest theater will seat between 2,000 and 2,100 patrons.
The original design for the 155,000-square-foot center was for a concrete building that would cost $12.1 million. Carter now prefers a steel frame and glass design that will run $15.2 million.
He's hoping to see it completed by the summer of 2001, so funding needs to be in place by the beginning of this summer.
"We already have two pledges that amount to $6 million, both from anonymous donors," Carter said Thursday. "We have indications from other reputable foundations that they will participate down the road. We've just finished sending out donor packets to 75 to 100 foundations that might be interested, and we're set up to sit down with corporations to ask for the big dollars.
"We've been to almost all of the nearby community city councils, and they've all been supportive. We're also sending out a notice to Lehi city residents asking for their support. We recognize a need for ownership among the communities."
Thanksgiving Point owners Karen and Alan Ashton have offered to allow the center to be constructed on four acres of property where the greenhouses currently sit at the Lehi destination point.
Carter is confident the remaining needed donations will come in.
He's also certain that locating an arts center in the north end of Utah County will prove to be the best idea out of several options being considered in the valley.
"We have a study that shows we would have a drawing power here from 1.25 million people," Carter said. "In Provo or Orem, you'd be looking at drawing from only 334,000. That's based on the fact that people don't like to drive more than 25 miles for entertainment."
Carter said he's talked with those in Provo and in Orem who are trying to drum up support for a centrally located center either at Utah Valley State College or just off the freeway.
"I told them I would help and support their efforts if they would not fight one another," he said. "We can combine forces to create a synergy that can really be good for everybody."
In the meantime, Carter believes the Lehi City Arts Council is far ahead of any other endeavors.
The arts council separated itself from the city two years ago in anticipation of going forward as a community arts alliance/council. Carter is very interested in pursing the idea that would pool the talents of individuals from Eagle Mountain to Lindon to Alpine to Saratoga Springs.
"The plan is to develop the local talent, to have kids prepared to fill the roles that are available as we bring in Broadway shows."
Those interested in donating should send checks to the Lehi City Arts Council, P.O. Box 42, Lehi, UT 84043-0042 or call Carter at 766-1210.