From left: Mike Besche, Campaign Committee Chair; Evelyn Hungerford, Chair of the Board of Directors; Vince Hungerford; and Chani Adams, Executive Director. (Submitted photo)
INDIAN HEAD, Md. (June 17, 2011)—The new Indian Head Center for the Arts (IHCA), which houses the Black Box Theatre, has begun a major fundraising campaign designed to raise $100,000 over the next 12 months.
In a recent ceremony, Evelyn Hungerford, chair of the Board of Directors, and Vince Hungerford presented IHCA Campaign Committee Chairman, Mike Besche, with a $10,000 check to kickoff the campaign.
"I have been involved with the Chesapeake Bay Floating Theatre, the organization which brought the Black Box Theatre to Indian Head, since it's inception in 1994. I am pleased to support the new Indian Head Center for the Arts, which will continue the tradition CBFT and the Black Box begun of providing much needed cultural activities for youth and families in the region," said Mrs. Hungerford.
The campaign will help support the development of plays and other programming at the new Center. According to Chani Adams, executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Floating Theatre and manager of the IHCA project. "We plan to bring in youth and children's theatre and arts specialists to run workshops and art classes, work with local artists to showcase their work and of course, continue to present the kind of quality theatrical and music performances that will help in the region's cultural and economic revival," she said.
Renovations continue to move forward at the theatre, which, upon completion, will add three large classrooms and a dance studio/rehearsal space to the existing 85 seat Black Box Theatre.
Adams said that regional residents can look forward to a number of fundraising events and opportunities over the coming months. Donations can also be made at any time at www.indianheadblackbox.org. On the site, residents can also sign up for the IHCA's newsletter, which will include regular updates on the center's progress and plans.
The Hungerford's leadership contribution, in addition to other recent donations, has already brought the IHCA to almost one-fifth of the way to its goal. "We've already seen an amazing level of dedication on the part of our board, the Town of Indian Head and many members of our local business community, Adams said. "We are confident that the regional community will step forward and help make this unique opportunity a reality."
The Indian Head Center for the Arts' mission is to provide a broad spectrum of arts services to the community. To act as a community center, encouraging community interaction, economic development and the creation of opportunities for children, youth and residents. The Center is managed by the Chesapeake Bay Floating Theatre, Inc., a registered US 501(c)3 nonprofit.