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Grant helps arts center recover

JANESVILLE — Last Friday the 13th was not a good day for the Janesville Performing Arts Center.

On that day in June, the Rock River was rising, the sub-basement was flooding and soon the firewall was a sodden mass of material, ready to produce mold at the drop of a hat—or a theater curtain.

Meanwhile, a production of “The Frogs” was being staged, but audience members were staying away from downtown. Who wants to wade through a swamp to get to a show?

Between the flooding and decreased ticket sales, JPAC took a hit.

Now, a grant from the Alliant Energy Foundation’s Rebuilding Our Communities Program will provide $5,000 flood assistance.

The money will be used to repair damage to the building and offset the revenues lost from “The Frogs,” a show that was designed to be a fundraiser for the center.

“The Alliant Energy Foundation wants to help the center through this tough time so that they can continue to serve the community well into the future,” foundation executive director Marthea Fox said in a news release.

JPAC is planning more events to bring more people back downtown to enjoy a show and to raise additional dollars to compensate for the losses incurred from the flooding.

This year’s annual fundraiser featuring Broadway star Susan Egan will be held at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23. Tickets for the show range from $35 to $250. Student tickets are $25.

On Oct. 3 and 4, the United Arts Alliance is holding its annual Artsfest, and ticket prices for dance and music performances range from $3 to $5.

“We are very thankful for the grant from the Alliant Energy Foundation to assist us getting back to our normal operations and to continue bringing performances to the area,” said JPAC executive director.

The Alliant Energy Foundation’s Rebuilding Our Communities Grant Program was created in response to the extensive flooding across Alliant Energy’s utility service territory in Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. The Foundation has allocated $1 million for the program, and non-profit groups can apply through Oct. 1 for grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000. Funds are to be used to help non-profits resume or maintain operations.