After nearly a year of construction, the South Arkansas Arts Center is thrilled to announce the Grand Unveiling of the renovation of and addition to their facility at 110 E. 5th Street in El Dorado. A day of events is planned for Friday, October 13, 2023, beginning with the official ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. with the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce. SAAC will be open to the public from 2-6 p.m. for tours and refreshments.
“We cannot wait to share our new spaces with all our friends in El Dorado and beyond,” said executive director Laura Allen. “The generous contributions of this community have made this project possible, and we are so excited to celebrate the completion. SAAC has made its home at 110 East Fifth Street for nearly sixty years, and we hope that this renovation will kick off the next six decades!”
The $2.2 million renovation of the center began with a groundbreaking on October 18, 2022, and has been funded through the “Reaching Higher” Capital Campaign, SAAC’s first in more than twenty years. Downstairs, the addition includes a new entrance, box office, kitchen, women’s restroom, elevator and staircase. Upstairs, the existing classrooms were renovated, and a new classroom and restroom have been added.
Focused on accessibility and hospitality, the project was a longtime goal of the SAAC board of directors, spearheaded by past president and architectural designer Richard Wharton. He worked closely with architect Michael Rogers of MR Designs and contractor Ideal Construction to guide the project from concept to reality. Wharton’s years of service to SAAC will be honored in the naming of the new “Wharton Balcony” on the second floor.
Chaired by former executive director Beth Burns, the Capital Campaign Committee was charged with raising funds for the expansion. A designation of $300,000 in seed money was made from SAAC’s general operating funds, followed by leadership gifts from the Murphy Family Foundation, the Murphy USA Charitable Trust, and Elaine and Claiborne Deming. Generous donors from all walks of life have continued to contribute to the fund, ensuring the project’s success.
The community is invited to join SAAC at the ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 13, or drop by for a building tour between 2 and 6 p.m. SAAC is located at 110 E. 5th St. in El Dorado. Call 870-862-5474 with any questions or for more information.