Holland Theatre officials announced Tuesday evening, Aug. 4, that the Art Upstairs campaign to renovate the theater’s second-floor office space into a community art center has met its Phase One fundraising goal of $450,000, thanks to outstanding community and state support.

More than half of that total, $250,000, is coming from the Laird A. Lile Family Foundation. The upstairs will be christened The Lile Center for the Arts at the Holland Theatre to commemorate the family’s generosity.

The Liles were also major contributors to the Holland marquee.

“We are proud to champion this next chapter for the Holland,” said Langdon Lile, a resident of Naples, Fla., whose family has strong ties to Bellefontaine. “My grandparents, Levi and Nancy Lile, believed deeply in supporting their hometown and taught my sister, Allie, and me the importance of access to the arts.

“We are honored to support this project that will foster creativity, learning and community.”

For several years, the Holland’s first-floor office space has provided a home for LoCo Art, Windmill Productions and the Logan County Art League. Demand for the youth services these organizations provide has blossomed, but the current cramped quarters prevent expansion.

Vacant for decades, the upstairs extends over both the current office space and the theater lobby. It will provide 2,760 square feet for art workshops, rehearsal space, a listening room, storage and more, with the smaller first floor then free for a community art gallery as well as Holland staff offices.

“We are so thankful for everyone who has contributed to the campaign thus far,” said LoCo Art Co-Director Jennifer Davis. “Every year we can see the positive impact that exposure to the arts has on children and youth.

“Through the development of Art Upstairs, LoCo Art looks forward to expanding that impact in our community.”

Other major sources of support for Art Upstairs are a $100,000 matching grant from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission; $50,000 from LoCo Art; and $10,000 from Windmill Productions. A July 10 fundraiser with a live auction as well as contributions that have come in since that time have rounded out the full amount, with major contributions from Jason and Ann Vogel, Jeff and Kim Martin, and David and Jackie Thompson.

The names of all $20+ donors were also entered into a raffle for a private movie screening or other event at the Holland. Tamara Gump of Bellefontaine was selected on Tuesday as the winner.

The first of three phases for the project, Phase One will fund asbestos remediation and basic infrastructure for the space.

The second phase will cover the costs of windows, and the third will fund flooring, fixtures, and other details.

Karen Beasley of local firm Beasley Architecture and Design is donating architectural services for the project.

More details about the Art Upstairs campaign and ways to give – including “sponsoring” a window or step – are available at theholland.org/logan-county-art-center/about-lcac/art-upstairs-campaign.  

More information about LoCo Art and the free art workshops and camps the organization provides can be found at locoartspot.com.