The Lowell Center for the Arts Advocates to Restore the Smith Baker Center
Kane met Owen Kelly CEO of The Lowell Center for the Arts www.lcalowell.org at a fundraiser over the weekend. Owen with the support of many community members is advocating to transform the historic First Congregational Church / Smith Baker Center in Lowell into a community arts center offering arts and cultural programming for children and adults.
By restoring the Smith Baker Center, the community would have a permanent home for creativity and expression in our community. Owen explained to Kane that the Lowell Center for the Arts is currently providing programming and camps throughout the city in schools and community spaces but wouldn’t it be great to have a home – a place where people could gather to create and learn collaboratively.
An example of programming is the Common Voice Community Chorus/ cooking programs and child and adult art classes. The mission statement for the Lowell Center for the Arts is to preserve Lowell’s past, enhance its present, and build our future. Kane thought breathing fresh air into this staple of downtown Lowell would certainly preserve Lowell’s past and future.
The vision of the Lowell Center for the Arts will become a dynamic hub for performing arts, community programming, and innovation honoring Lowell’s diverse cultural heritage while shaping its future as a thriving, inclusive city. Owen stated,’ it is our vision to transfer the historic Smith Baker Center into a vibrant, multi-use facility that fosters arts, culture, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement.”
The vision included offering art performance venues, music and art education, gathering spaces, community kitchens, and restaurants. (https://www.lcalowell.org/) Kane himself doesn’t know much about drawing but he sure would be interested in eating the culinary delights.
So, Kane asked, “what is in the way?”
Well Kane learned the Lowell City Council voted 6 to 2 for the demolition of the Smith Baker Center, once the First Congregational Church. This 141-year-old historic building is definitely very difficult to say goodbye to due to its historic nature and Victorian Gothic Style. The building has been vacant since 2002.
The reason for the demolition is the price tag to restore the building currently owned by the city. There have been many suggestions by advocates and agencies trying to restore the space for community use including grant opportunities for restoration and development.
Anyway, the community has spoken, and restoration and development ideas will be heard at the May 5th City Council meeting.
Community members and some members of the City Council are trying to overturn the demolition decision. Kane has learned this is a very touchy subject.
Owen explained to Kane that he was looking forward to the upcoming Planning Board and City Council Meetings.
He was hopeful that the decision to demolish the structure would be overturned to realize the dream of bringing the community together to celebrate art, culture, and cuisine. Owen would like you to visit the Lowell Center for the Arts Facebook page HERE to learn about the current programs and youth camps and to make a donation to the restoration project advocacy.
Kane Peaslee, woof
Columnist, The Valley Patriot ◊