KANSAS CITY, KAN -
A Kansas City, Kansas, arts center is preparing for their annual Halloween party on Saturday. But thanks to a massive heating bill, when the party's over they'll turn out the lights until Spring.
The Kansas City, Kansas, School District gave the former school building near 18th Street and I-70 to the Alcott Art Center eight years ago, partly because the cost of repairs and upkeep on the structure were simply too costly. And today, the problems of keeping the building heated in the Winter is still too much for the Arts Center to overcome.
"All the money we raise during the year literally goes back into programming," said Chuck Green of the Alcott Arts Center Foundation. "We offer artistic opportunities so we make sure whether we have funding or heat we keep going. We make sure people who wouldn't get opportunities elsewhere get them here."
The center offers art, drama and music classes, but the building's broken and apparently unfixable boiler means that class is dismissed until next year.
"Our last class was yesterday, the guitar class, and they were a little cold in there," said the foundation's Chris Green.
The two men say that they are limited in what they can accomplish by the lack of heat in the old building.
"Every year we build up a momentum," said Chuck Green. "And in October, when everybody's getting to know us again, we shut back down."
Click here for more information on the Alcott Arts Center, including more on the Trunk or Treat Halloween Party and fundraiser.
The Kansas City, Kansas, School District gave the former school building near 18th Street and I-70 to the Alcott Art Center eight years ago, partly because the cost of repairs and upkeep on the structure were simply too costly. And today, the problems of keeping the building heated in the Winter is still too much for the Arts Center to overcome.
"All the money we raise during the year literally goes back into programming," said Chuck Green of the Alcott Arts Center Foundation. "We offer artistic opportunities so we make sure whether we have funding or heat we keep going. We make sure people who wouldn't get opportunities elsewhere get them here."
The center offers art, drama and music classes, but the building's broken and apparently unfixable boiler means that class is dismissed until next year.
"Our last class was yesterday, the guitar class, and they were a little cold in there," said the foundation's Chris Green.
The two men say that they are limited in what they can accomplish by the lack of heat in the old building.
"Every year we build up a momentum," said Chuck Green. "And in October, when everybody's getting to know us again, we shut back down."
Click here for more information on the Alcott Arts Center, including more on the Trunk or Treat Halloween Party and fundraiser.
