CODE UPGRADES FOR THE URBAN FIELD HOUSE
Donation protected
The Urban Field House was purchased to help house our performing arts at LAFA! And it truly is beautiful!
The Main Hall is completely renovated and will be hosting many weddings for the next 2 years. We are so excited to give these brides and their families a beautiful venue. All my life I have fought to keep the arts alive and well in Windsor Essex-County. I have been teaching for 24 years. LAFA was built on the morals that the arts should be inclusive. Everyone from all walks of life should have access to the performing arts. I was a kid that didn't have a lot of confidence and when I came across the arts in high school, it changed my life. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I hadn't found them.
LAFA has always kept pricing to a minimum. We hire the best teachers and teach proper techniques even to the new kids. We want drama to be fun, enjoyable and give those that don't a voice! And the ones that do have a voice... to teach them how to use it positively and soar. Most people who are in the arts know that performing arts is expensive! VERY expensive. An average production at LAFA can cost between $10,000 - $20,000 and thats us being very frugal! VERY! Thats why buying the building made sense. Plus, the kids can grow so much more in the environment they are familiar with. I had a thought, if we can get a building and help subsidize the programs by renting out the hall for weddings and events, then the money can go right back to the kids!
Our staff's LOVE for the arts is incredible. This past year has been a difficult one. When we purchased the building, we allowed the church to stay for 8 months until their building was finished, after 6 weeks of being in the building we had a devastating fire. It was just about $300,000 worth of damage. And through it all we have had to work with architects, engineers, zoning and everything because it was an older building that was needing repairs because of a fire. At first glance, the requirements were outrageous. The first estimate was over $600,000 for code upgrades after the $300,000 that was already done.
We fought behind the scenes, as this would have closed everything. And through it all... LAFA STAFF, students and parents came together to make the best of it. In fact, I believe we thrived because of it. This past year, our students have reached amazing heights in New Jersey, on and off the screen. Although the venue is gorgeous and up and running; the venue is only half of the building, the other half that was not directly (but was directly...sigh...technicalities) affected by the fire is needing major code upgrades that are not covered by insurance. We have come to the final stages of the plans. We cannot avoid the costs that we have to endure. These are things that were not covered by the insurance because they were not in direct contact with the fire but they are needed because of the fire. I would like to take the time to say - our insurance company was incredible! They really were, and worked with me through the whole process with compassion and empathy. But the lines are there and we have move on. We have to get HVAC redone because of air quality code upgrades, add another air conditioner, dampers and such. The bathrooms have to be redone, because the code requires - so much due to the renovations, all things that are needed for handicap accessibility, air quality, more stalls and so much more... During this project we are adding a dance, vocal and acting room, as well as storage. the kids need space to learn. And we are running out of storage space. These are merely walls in a large space that now can be used equitably. We are working with neighbouring schools to run after school programming in the arts.
This truly is a gem for all in the community! Young and old. We have so many retired families coming out to the weddings, concerts and benefits. I am not asking the families we teach to dig into their pockets, you truly have done enough through this process, with cleaning up after the fire, donating and pitching in whenever needed. It is incredible! I am asking the people out there that are looking for NAMING RIGHTS to the the space or maybe just someone who loves the arts and have been changed by them. I know what performing arts can do. I have seen it with my one eyes, children have changed their life path, found a voice, climbed a mountain they never thought they could... I am putting everything out their into the universe in hopes to get this out there to help us through this crazy time!
-- Sarah Ilijanich
LEAD / FTA / LAFA
www.lakeshoreacademyoffinearts.com
519 [phone redacted]
The Main Hall is completely renovated and will be hosting many weddings for the next 2 years. We are so excited to give these brides and their families a beautiful venue. All my life I have fought to keep the arts alive and well in Windsor Essex-County. I have been teaching for 24 years. LAFA was built on the morals that the arts should be inclusive. Everyone from all walks of life should have access to the performing arts. I was a kid that didn't have a lot of confidence and when I came across the arts in high school, it changed my life. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I hadn't found them.
LAFA has always kept pricing to a minimum. We hire the best teachers and teach proper techniques even to the new kids. We want drama to be fun, enjoyable and give those that don't a voice! And the ones that do have a voice... to teach them how to use it positively and soar. Most people who are in the arts know that performing arts is expensive! VERY expensive. An average production at LAFA can cost between $10,000 - $20,000 and thats us being very frugal! VERY! Thats why buying the building made sense. Plus, the kids can grow so much more in the environment they are familiar with. I had a thought, if we can get a building and help subsidize the programs by renting out the hall for weddings and events, then the money can go right back to the kids!
Our staff's LOVE for the arts is incredible. This past year has been a difficult one. When we purchased the building, we allowed the church to stay for 8 months until their building was finished, after 6 weeks of being in the building we had a devastating fire. It was just about $300,000 worth of damage. And through it all we have had to work with architects, engineers, zoning and everything because it was an older building that was needing repairs because of a fire. At first glance, the requirements were outrageous. The first estimate was over $600,000 for code upgrades after the $300,000 that was already done.
We fought behind the scenes, as this would have closed everything. And through it all... LAFA STAFF, students and parents came together to make the best of it. In fact, I believe we thrived because of it. This past year, our students have reached amazing heights in New Jersey, on and off the screen. Although the venue is gorgeous and up and running; the venue is only half of the building, the other half that was not directly (but was directly...sigh...technicalities) affected by the fire is needing major code upgrades that are not covered by insurance. We have come to the final stages of the plans. We cannot avoid the costs that we have to endure. These are things that were not covered by the insurance because they were not in direct contact with the fire but they are needed because of the fire. I would like to take the time to say - our insurance company was incredible! They really were, and worked with me through the whole process with compassion and empathy. But the lines are there and we have move on. We have to get HVAC redone because of air quality code upgrades, add another air conditioner, dampers and such. The bathrooms have to be redone, because the code requires - so much due to the renovations, all things that are needed for handicap accessibility, air quality, more stalls and so much more... During this project we are adding a dance, vocal and acting room, as well as storage. the kids need space to learn. And we are running out of storage space. These are merely walls in a large space that now can be used equitably. We are working with neighbouring schools to run after school programming in the arts.
This truly is a gem for all in the community! Young and old. We have so many retired families coming out to the weddings, concerts and benefits. I am not asking the families we teach to dig into their pockets, you truly have done enough through this process, with cleaning up after the fire, donating and pitching in whenever needed. It is incredible! I am asking the people out there that are looking for NAMING RIGHTS to the the space or maybe just someone who loves the arts and have been changed by them. I know what performing arts can do. I have seen it with my one eyes, children have changed their life path, found a voice, climbed a mountain they never thought they could... I am putting everything out their into the universe in hopes to get this out there to help us through this crazy time!
-- Sarah Ilijanich
LEAD / FTA / LAFA
www.lakeshoreacademyoffinearts.com
519 [phone redacted]
Organizer
LAFA LEAD
Organizer
Emeryville, ON