Construction Begins

The City of Huntsville has received grants from three foundations to assist with the conversion of the Wynne Home into the Wynne Home Arts Center for the broad use of the community. The Powell Foundation in Houston has awarded a grant of $30,000 to the Huntsville Arts Commission, City of Huntsville toward the project; the Houston Endowment, Inc. has awarded a grant of $100,000; and the Trull Foundation has given $5,000 for construction costs. Local fundraising efforts have brought more than $200,000 in gifts and donations and the Huntsville Arts Commission has reserved $30,000 for this transformation of the Wynne mansion and grounds into a community cultural arts center.

With these generous grants and gifts and with City support of $300,000 to be paid from hotel-motel tax revenues, the City is beginning construction of the arts center where programs will improve our lives here in Huntsville and beyond. (See Benefits.) Since contracts for this rehabilitation work total $733,000, the project still needs $66,000. A grant application to The Meadows Foundation has been submitted to request funding to complete the adaptive re-use construction and to equip the house as an arts center.

The City appreciates the generous gifts and grants that have been given for the benefit of the community as well as the efforts of the Huntsville Arts Commission and advisory members and volunteers who are contributing in so many ways to fund raising and to grant applications with planning, letters, documents, research, photographs, and general assistance. A special thank-you goes to The Center for Community Support at Texas A & M, to Mr. Darrow Zeidenstein of Martz and Lundy, and to Beth Miles who have given special help in this process of seeking funding assistance for the Wynne Home Arts Center Project.
In future phases, the complete landscaping of the center will be accomplished. In these phases there will be additional opportunities for the community to participate – some in hands-on volunteer projects. Already, the volunteer Landscape Team has provided significant input to the landscape architect. The Beautification Committee has voted to take a portion of the Wynne grounds as a special project in fiscal year 04-05, The Huntsville Garden is contributing the memorial rose garden, the company Landscape Pride will contribute mulch for a large area and several individuals, including some in Master Gardeners have offered to volunteer. Additional funds will also be raised to complete landscaping.

Gifts, donations, and volunteer service are needed and welcomed. Please contact the Cultural Services Office at City Hall during regular office hours, call 936-291-5422, email lpease@huntsvilletx.gov for additional information or send contributions to the Wynne Home Arts Center, 1212 Avenue M, Huntsville, TX 77340.

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