For the last 12 years, we have been working with Prairie Skyline Foundation to improve the old Cathedral. Yes, everything about it is challenging, from its towering height all the way down to its foundation. We just can*t do it without you! Please help us bring it back up to something magic, a magic castle where the arts abound.
There really was no sizable grant money available for historic preservation until we passed the Minnesota Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in November, 2008. With the help of *Legacy* funding, Prairie Skyline Foundation (PSF) was able to work with "Artspace" to design the plan for the reuse of the former Cathedral. The project, called *the Young at HArt Center* combines the benefits of a community center with a hands-on arts center.
The Plan addresses many challenges faced by the Crookston community. For example, lack of arts opportunities, a center for area youth, a dwindling downtown, and divisions between cultures, incomes, and age groups. And the plan can bring busloads of kids and teachers to visit and spend time and money in Crookston!
Support is extremely important in helping us secure grants. While we sold the Thrift Shop to the City and have $25,000 to work with as *match,* we still need your support, because we need your donation to increase the match to obtain larger grants, and more of them. Twenty percent or more shows the kind of support our next grant application will need.
$20,000 is reserved for matching an $80,000 Legacy grant application due in May for a total of $100,000 to restore the two sacristy (wings) roofs and floors, replace flashing on the main roof, properly board up the windows, provide ventilation, repair the front steps, critical masonry repair, gutters and downspouts, and painting, making the building safe and attractive to walk around.
If everyone gave a small donation today, for example most people give $35,we can add additional elements, like new doors, and some windows! It will also provide leverage to apply for an EPA grant to properly clean-up the damage done by pigeons. These grants will allow us to open the doors to a clean and safe place to plan the layout of the family arts center!
