Tuesday, July 24, 2018 3:48 am

The Board and Staff of the Arts Center of Cannon County are pleased to announce the Classroom addition to the facility.

Having its own entrance, wood floor, mirrored wall, and separate heating/cooling system, the Classroom will service a multitude of functions. This new space will free up the Berger Gallery and Cannon Hall for additional exhibits and programming.

The Classroom will provide a dedicated rehearsal space that doubles as a dance studio. Dance is involved in many of the productions taking stage at the Wilma Adams Theater. The room will also serve our Summer Conservatory students.

Two sound insulated private practice rooms will be carved out of existing square footage as part of this project. Interest in private voice and music lessons has increased. A space dedicated to providing those services is vital to serving the needs of children, adults, and seniors of our community.

The lead contributor to the project is the Berger Family Foundation. Their request to dedicate the addition to Austin Jennings will be gladly honored. Mr. Jennings was apprised of the project some months ago; he was enthusiastic about the Arts Center's future and financial stability.

MTSU will be sponsoring a billboard marketing their programming on the east face of the Classroom building. "We look forward to MTSU becoming engaged with Classroom programming," stated ACCC's current Chief Operating Officer Beth McCrary.

The Classroom project was conceptualized 3 years ago by past Arts Center Executive Director Neal Appelbaum. He worked with staff and contractors on the design then began the task of fundraising. The project is being executed solely with private contributions, no tax dollars.

Preston Brothers Construction will be building the Classroom. Work will begin after the White Oak Craft Fair concludes in September and will take several months to complete.