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12/02/2015 08:30 AM

Academy School Arts Center Bids to be Opened Soon


A proposal to turn the now-empty Academy School into a regional arts center by the Shoreline Arts Alliance is awaiting bids to determine renovation costs.

The town is expecting to review preliminary bids to renovate the old Academy School building into a regional arts center around Dec. 7.

Town Engineer Mike Ott recently reported to the Board of Selectmen that the bids should be ready for review by selectmen, himself, and Shoreline Arts Alliance (SAA) CEO and Executive Director Eric Dillner by that time.

Dillner previously has stated that he is hoping to sign a lease by late spring 2016.

Newly elected First Selectman Tom Banisch has already met with the SAA to discuss the proposal, noting he is “confident” the town can present a lease in the coming months.

SAA—a non-profit organization that is a state-designated arts council for 24 towns—has set a fundraising goal of $500,000 and is already nearly halfway to that goal with $245,000 raised so far.