​​​Building the dream

Press Release-Chewelah Center for the Arts, June 18, 2016

PACA and the Chewelah Center for the Arts has been gifted with an incredibly generous donation of staging equipment from Tait Towers, an industry leader in staging equipment, via Chewelah’s own Matt Hales. A Jenkins High School graduate, Matt went on to receive theatre degrees from Eastern Washington (BA) and Carnegie Mellon Universities (MFA). Currently the Senior Project Manager at Tait Towers, Matt was able to collaborate with Tait to recognize his hometown and mentors with this lasting gift.

Surplus equipment in storage at Tait has been specifically chosen to fit the needs of this project, and is on its way! This gift will provide the first stages and seating platforms needed to create the Center performance venues. The shipment contains 40-4’ x 8’ deck units (1,280 square feet of stage), safety railings, cross bracing and all of the necessary hardware. The Tait donation is valued at $134,300, An additional donation of $5,000 will cover the cost of shipping by Rocket Cargo of Los Angeles, again thanks to Matt.

The Chewelah Center for the Arts is a $970,000 reclamation project. Volunteers are laboring to clean up the old city garage and National Guard Armory and transform it into a center of civic pride and productivity. The Center is spearheaded by PACA Board Chair Sharon Ludwig and led by volunteer facility coordinators Architect Tom Bristol and theatre advisor Don McLaughlin. Bud Evans is Fund Drive Chair.

         The Chewelah Center for the Arts, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, welcomes cash and in-kind donations to complete the mission; there is still much to be done. Currently, volunteers are needed to prepare the facility for floor and wall finishing, staging installation and all other areas involved with theatrical production. Volunteers work every Saturday morning from 9-12 am. If you can help in any way with this important and exciting civic project, make a donation or sign up to volunteer! Please contact: Sharon Ludwig at 509-936-0275 or by email at: info@chewelahpaca.org