Creston Arts gets a lift

The sky is the limit for Creston Arts. To have a community art center was merely a dream among the Creston Arts council members and its supporters, but during Balloon Days weekend, Sept. 17 to 19, the public will be able to tour its newest space.

The Creston Arts Center seeks to be an epicenter of the region for creativity, culture and arts education serving individuals of all ages and abilities. After recently securing a competitive grant for a lift from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, visitors will be able to access all levels of the former Huff Bakery/White Dairy building, which now houses Creston Arts Community Art Center

“From the design phase forward we said we have to have accessibility,” said Brian Zachary of Creston Arts. “We designed the bathrooms to be ADA accessible. We have brought people in wheel chairs in to make sure they can fit through the doorways. It’s just super important.”

Jesse Bolinger who has been working to secure grants and financial gifts for the project said accessibility in facilities and programming has been a cornerstone of Creston Arts since its inception in the 1970s and even more so with the new arts council over the past decade. He said, not only is compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act a legal requirement, it’s a moral obligation, as well.

“There is a moral requirement, at least in our minds, for everyone to be able to access it,” said Bolinger. “One of my very early moves was to research elevators and lifts. It took a little longer than we wanted, but we’ve settled on a company we’ve agreed to work with. It’s quiet, it looks nice, ... It’s really going to be something that’s used by a lot more people than we’ve anticipated.”

Over the years, Creston Arts has brought its programming to schools, nursing homes, businesses and organizations. While the efforts of its volunteers have been well received, Creston Arts’ program offerings have been limited. Now, with its prominent location in Creston’s uptown, its programming will be even more accessible.

“It’s not just for people in wheel chairs. One thing I’ve told other grant makers is we want to see intergenerational engagement,” said Bolinger. “I don’t care if it’s a 95-year-old great-grandmother in a wheelchair that comes to sit and watch her great-grandkid paint or if it’s somebody in their ‘70s that uses a walker and still plays guitar that wants to come to open mic night. I want to be able to get them upstairs.”

“[The lift] is for anybody in a wheelchair, but you could also have a walker, one of those knee scooter things, even a stroller,” said Zachary. “It’s really important we are there for everybody.”

Creston Arts will host a multi-location arts festival will be held Balloon Days weekend, Sept. 17-19 at its new community center, 411 W. Adams St., Brick and Bell, Hot Air Brewing, Create Creston and Creston Arts Gallery inside the restored depot. For more information about Creston Arts programs and events , or to make a donation, visit crestonarts.com or follow Creston Arts on Facebook.