When the dance, music and art classes of the Artchurch Studio in Hot Springs moved out of the old Haven United Methodist Church to the Dryden Pottery building, a block down Whittington Street in Hot Springs, it was like a dream come true for the organization.
“At the church, every space had to be adapted for a different use,” said Erin Holliday, executive director of the arts school/studio. “One day, it’s a display space for our latest exhibition. The next day, we push the rolling walls back, bring in tables, and we hold an art class. Then we clear the tables away for a dance class.”
In the 4,000 square feet of space leased from the pottery company, the organization had plenty of room and reopened with a new name — Emergent Arts.
The new name comes from the co-founder of Artchurch, Terry Menefee, who started the nonprofit organization in 2008. In an interview when the art program began in the old church, she said she wanted “a working studio for emerging artists and collectors.” The phrase is also in the organization’s mission statement.
The move was made and the space worked well, Holliday said. Then came the winter and Holliday found that the space, with its bare concrete walls, didn’t have enough heat.
“All last winter our music students would play and sing in their heavy winter coats and we could not even use the art studio — it was too cold,” Holliday said. “The parents went along with it last year. They would not be as forgiving if we are not moving forward.”
Holliday and Emergent Arts went in search of money for heating and air conditioning and got more than they asked for; they got Jim Elmore.
Elmore, a retired manufacturer, is a member of the Hot Spring Giving Circle, a philanthropic organization founded by Dorothy Morris, director of the Morris Foundation and a enthusiastic supporter of the arts.
“Dorothy Morris has been an active advocate for us in the community,” Holliday said.
Elmore, who has been in the heating and air conditioning business, took a special interest in Emergent Arts’ proposal and wanted to become involved personally.
“It is hard to get kids what they really need,” he said. “It is good for them to learn arts and keep their minds and bodies busy with something positive.”
Holliday said she definitely got more than she asked for, including professional help.
“I had asked for about $9,500,” she said. “The Circle members said they would give me $10,000 for the project and Jim had to run it.”
Elmore and Holliday walked around the studio and informed her the place need more than just heating and air conditioning. He said the site needed insulation and drywall over some of the concrete walls, some new windows and lowered ceilings in other areas.
He found radiant heaters that would be installed in the floor and would heat using very little energy.
“The gas heater in the floor will warm the table and chairs, as opposed to setting under a heater,” Holliday said. “We can heat the room and turn it off. It is very efficient.”
Elmore said that to do the project right, they would need some more money. Giving Circle members Morris and Don Munro provided additional funds, and Holliday said the project is coming in at around $15,000.
“We reconfigured some existing duct work and returns, and that has allowed the work to fit the budget,” Holliday said. “Jim had been a good voice of experience and an advocate for us. He got us windows at good prices. He has been a great advantage for us.”
With Elmore’s help, the Emergent Arts studio brought in a contractor who is working to meet the specific needs of the art organization while working with the existing structure. Both Holliday and Elmore said the Hot Springs Planning and Development Department has been helpful in allowing the project to move quickly.
Chief Building Inspector Mike Scott has helped streamline approval of the work at Emergent Arts under the special rules announced during the summer to aid downtown revitalization projects.
“To be considered by the city like some of the major projects going on downtown is great,” Holliday said. “We are so proud of that.”
“Mike has worked with us as we tried to do this project efficiently,” Elmore said. “They have supported us and made this project easier.”
Holliday said the improvements, which started last Monday and should be over by the end of November, will open a new chapter for Emergent Arts.
“This will bring a visibility and excitement to our work all year,” she said. “We will be doing more classes, and it will be more comfortable. There will be more events, and we will have a greater impact on the community.”
Staff writer Wayne Bryan can be reached at (501) 244-4460 or wbryan@arkansasonline.com.