THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 11, 1996 TAG: 9604110320
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NAGS HEAD LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
Unable to manage the $5,000 monthly rent at a huge former car museum, the new Outer Banks Center for the Arts has found itself homeless.
However, organizers of the 7-month-old organization contend it's still alive and kicking.
``We're not giving up,'' said Pat Troiani, the group's vice president and a Southern Shores artist. ``We're just going at it a little slower and, hopefully, not as naively.''
Stung early on by skepticism from the community, the center never gathered the corporate support it needed to get off the ground, Troiani said. The group had visions of a multi-use art center that would foster appreciation of an eclectic selection of music, sculpture, painting and other art. About 190 people so far have paid the $25 annual membership fee.
``We really thought the business part of the community would back us and jump on board,'' Troiani said, ``and frankly they did not.''
Troiani said George Crocker, owner of the 17,000-square-foot building, has generously permitted the art organization to use the space at minimal expense all winter. But the artist group decided recently that it will not be able to afford a yearlong lease.
Jim Davis, president and a founder of the art center, said Crocker was more than patient with the organization; he just needed a commitment.``We were comfortable with doing the lease with Mr. Crocker, but we didn't have the funds,'' he said.
A meeting between Crocker and the art center board will be held Tuesday, Davis said.
Davis, a Wanchese woodworker, said the plan was to use 5,000 square feet to display historical artifacts, which would draw tourists. At about $2 a head, visitors could provide a steady flow of income to fund expansion of the center with classrooms, a theater, a gift shop and an art gallery.
``That's why we need the main gallery,'' Davis said. ``We need people coming in the door, paying.''
Plans called for displaying Wright brothers memorabilia, and items from the Pea Island life saving station, local lighthouses and aquariums, but Davis said the center would have to raise $35,000 to $40,000 to build the gallery display.
Even though the dollars didn't come rolling in from community supporters, the art center's organizers have some other funding lines. Davis said he is meeting with several bankers and financiers today to discuss possible backing, and several grants have been applied for. Plus, proceeds from fund-raisers planned for this summer will be funneled directly into the center.
``I really feel bad about it because I think this concept is a great concept,'' said Glenn Eure, owner of the Ghost Fleet Gallery in Nags Head. ``I think everybody was very, very much for the idea of something like that.''
Eure, an Outer Banks artist for 25 years, said he and others in the established art community were concerned from the outset about the center shooting too high too fast.
``But they deserve a chance to have it work,'' he said.
Troiani said she hopes the center will gather renewed interest in the growing artist community.
``We're not treading on anybody's feet because what we're trying to do is things that haven't been done here before,'' she said. by CNB