MAUI ARTS & CULTURAL CENTER RECEIVES FUNDING FOR CONSTRUCTION

The State of Hawai’i has released $500,000 to the Maui Arts & Cultural Center (MACC)  which will go towards capital improvements at the performing and visual arts facility.  The funding is part of a third and final stage of construction, for a project called “Completing Pundy’s Dream,” named for the center’s Founding Chairman Pundy Yokouchi, who died in November of 2006.  The project icnldues the construction of a permanent pavilion with a glass and steel roof over the founders court and amphitheater, upgraded food and beverage area, and an aditonal 35-hundred square feet of space overlooking founders court.  This $12.8 million third phase, is scheduled to be completed in February of next year.

“We are deeply grateful to the State for appropriating and releasing these funds at this critical time,” notes Chairman Jimmy Haynes. “The State’s support will be leveraged many times over-first in triggering matching gifts, and then in triggering the start of this $12.8 million construction project on Maui, which will boost the island’s economy.”

MACC President & CEO Karen Fischer adds: “When construction is complete, the improvements will help the MACC serve our community better now and into the future. And this project will help the MACC generate new income that will support our wide-ranging programs. We thank the Governor and the Legislature for their foresight in approving these funds.”

The construction project, which is scheduled to start in early 2009, will include the following upgrades to the MACC:

• A permanent pavilion-a glass and steel pyramid roof-over Yokouchi Founders’ Court and A&B Amphitheater stage
• Upgraded food and beverage service area and prep kitchen
• New 3500-sq-ft. event space overlooking Founders’ Court
• Increased parking, adding egress and spaces
• Maintenance and storage space to support the volume of activity at The Center

T

e MACC will continue to operate without interruption during the construction phase. The project will fulfill the MACC’s goal of improving services and facilities, expanding community use, increasing earned income potential and strengthening the legacy in support of MACC programs. The scope of construction was determined by a Facility Master Plan undertaken in 2001, to upgrade the facilities to meet the rapidly expanding use of The Center, now serving about 250,000 people annually in over 1700 events per year.

Built in Kahului in 1994, the Center launched its current construction efforts in 2002, funded by A Gift for Generations to Come Campaign. Phase One and Two were completed in 2003 and 2006. This third phase, which is scheduled to be completed in February 2010, is estimated to cost $12.8 million. “Completing Pundy’s Dream” is named for Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Founding Chairman Pundy Yokouchi, who died in November 2006. Pundy was the driving force and central figure of The Center’s inception, and was also the first to come up with the glass-and-steel pyramid roof idea. Though the MACC met its Generations Campaign goals, soaring construction costs over the last few years mandated a final fundraising push to meet project costs. The MACC’s Board of Directors is committed to continuing Pundy’s vision to build out stage three as planned. The funding from the State matches a grant last year from the County of Maui, and will be leveraged with monies from private donations and charitable foundation grants.

As part of its county-wide mission, the MACC provides arts education and community programs on Maui, Lāna`i and Moloka`i. For more information about Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s programs and events, visit www.mauiarts.org.

(Posted by Wendy Osher:  Thursday, January 15, 2009)