Wednesday, July 18, 2001
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Wednesday, July 18, 2001 |
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Braelinn Baptist will make a good community center I was very heartened to read in John Munford's article, "Auditorium plans to go before voters," which appeared in the Citizen Review that Peachtree City is seriously considering purchasing the Braelinn Baptist Church for a multiuse community center. Perhaps this will finally provide a permanent facility for Peachtree City's and Fayette County's many arts organizations. I have been a resident of Peachtree City for 10 years and have witnessed the discussion of such a facility several times during that period only to be disappointed by the city's lack of commitment. We have through our tax dollars provided our youth with some of the finest athletic facilities in the state, and my children have certainly been beneficiaries of our generosity. However, there continues to grow a sizeable number of our youth who are seriously pursuing their love of the arts. Dance, musical theater, drama, instrumental music performance and the visual arts provide many of our youth with the outlets they need to reach their full potential and to give them an avenue for their artistic expression. We have students in this city who participate in the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Spivey Hall Children's Chorus, the Music Teachers National Association spring and fall auditions, All-State Band, Chorus and Orchestra, Governor's Honors Program in Music and Art, and so on. This group is far less vocal than the athletic segment of the population but no less deserving of state of the art facilities and affirmation of their accomplishments. In these past 10 years I have watched several groups, including Off-Shoot Productions, Fayette Youth Chorale, Fayette Community Theater, The Georgia Youth Ballet, struggle to find venues not only for rehearsals but for performance as well. Numerous individual music teachers throughout town annually struggle to find performance space for their student recitals. Our churches, which used to provide such space, are taxed to the limit with their own activities and are no longer an option. The Braelinn Baptist Church has a small auditorium with a stage and theatrical lighting which could be used as an intimate venue for concerts or small dramatic productions. The 27 classrooms at Braelinn Baptist Church can be used for music, drama, dance and art classes, providing much-needed space for some of the organizations already mentioned as well as the martial arts, arts and crafts, gardening and cooking classes as suggested by Randy Gaddo of Leisure Services. Furthermore, individual teachers or groups could rent specific facilities, such as the auditorium, for a nominal fee, helping to cover the operating costs. Parking is ample. The proposed civic auditorium will provide the additional performance space desperately needed for full-scale theatrical and ballet productions. With the additional purchase of a good quality grand piano to have on site on a permanent basis for rehearsals and performances, Braelinn Fine Arts Center could become a centerpiece for the arts community of Peachtree City and Fayette County. Pamela Martin, artistic director, Cirrus, and private certified teacher of piano Kay Fry, Lorra Cotton and Jeanne Blood, directors of Fayette Fiddlers and Fortissimo Susan Steadman, Ph.D., artistic director, Off-Shoot Productions Millie Tureck, director, Fayette Youth Chorale and choral director, Sandy Creek High School Emily Webb, director, Blue Ridge Suzuki Flute Program Joan Velsmid, director, Fayette Community Theater Magdalena Maury, director, Georgia Youth Ballet and The Studio Robert Wiemann, 2001-2002 president of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra Parents Association, initiator of the Fayette County public school string program and parent of four artistically talented youth Cheryl and Karl Dietmeyer, parents of two artistically talented youth
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