Fish Creek, Wis. (August 19, 2024) – Door Community Auditorium (DCA) has announced the beginning of the public phase of its ENCORE! Fundraising campaign, which will support the creation of a new multi-purpose space with the temporary working name of The Annex.
Located across Highway 42 from DCA, The Annex will offer a number of opportunities to expand DCA’s many cultural offerings, including: indoor and outdoor performance and gathering spaces; the pairing of cultural events with food and beverage, including occasional beer and wine service; music practice rooms for instrumental instruction not offered at Gibraltar Schools; a full catering kitchen for improved artist hospitality and catered special events; offices and collaboration space for DCA staff and other nonprofit organizations; expanded restroom and parking capacity; and the solidification and preservation of a major Fish Creek corner as an arts and education hub.
In addition to supporting DCA’s Main Stage season, The Annex will be an ideal space for hosting unique community events, salon-style or cabaret concerts, chamber music, jazz, lectures, or films. Offerings at The Annex will showcase student, community, regional, and national talent.
DCA executive director Cari Lewis said, “We are so excited to enrich what DCA already offers, and most of all to deepen the community connection that can happen in Fish Creek.”
Generous community funding has already allowed DCA to purchase the land where The Annex will sit and to demolish the building that sat there previously. DCA has partnered with Boldt Construction and architect Chris Renier to create a space that is modern, bold, functional, and welcoming. Groundbreaking is set for later in 2024, with the new building’s opening slated for fall 2025.
Fish Creek resident and DCA board member Linda Birmingham said, “Years ago, when our son played the viola with the PMF youth group, all the kids were in awe hearing the professional musicians play in DCA. Before that, we’d been in the old gym, on metal chairs, with basketball nets hanging overhead. The musicians were equally good then, but the professional space took it to a new level. The Annex will fill a void in the same way—offering so much to our young musicians with dedicated instruction and practice space.”
With the move into the public phase of the campaign, Door Community Auditorium’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce an effort to name The Education Wing in honor of Anne Haberland Emerson. A beloved Door County icon, Anne is one of DCA’s creators and founding directors. Anne was also involved in founding FOG and Write On, Door County. She is an Emeritus Director of DCA, dear friend, strong supporter, and champion of Door County arts and arts education. DCA’s board is honored to recognize Anne’s legacy and has designated $50,000 in seed funding towards that portion of the campaign.
More information, including a video, renderings of the new building, fundraising and construction updates, and an online giving form, is available at https://dcauditorium.org/encore. Naming opportunities are available for many aspects of the new building, starting at $5,000.
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