A Message from Rebecca Bridges Rice, President of the Board
Dear Members:
I hope that by now you had a chance to look at the recorded video of the Annual General Meeting that was circulated via email this past Friday.
Last week was a momentous period for the Arts in Rockport. We broke ground, we are ready to get started with construction, and we launched the public phase of the Imagine Capital Campaign. Teal Construction, our general contractor, has started to mobilize equipment on the site, and soon you will see materials as well.
The relocation of the Kline’s Cafe Building hit a snag with the rough weather we had two weeks ago. The concrete pour for the foundation at the new site was delayed for warmer weather. We expect the pour will last two days and it will be completed this week.
Although we did not have Congressman Michael Cloud with us at the groundbreaking, he did send a lovely message that I would like to share with you:
“This is a great day for Rockport, and I wish I could be there in person instead of in Washington voting. Though Hurricane Harvey brought some of the most destruction we have seen in our area, Texans, especially Rockportians, have shown the world what it looks like to persevere and prevail over this hardship. Not only has Rockport banded together to recover from Harvey, they have continued to do so while battling the coronavirus, the economic downturn, and now most recently a severe winter storm.
“Work is far from complete but we are making progress. The Art Center is a great example of that as it is a wonderful part to the Rockport community. There is a very distinct and vibrant art culture in Rockport, and the Art Center is at the center of that. For years, it has provided opportunities and resources by displaying local art work, cultivating creativity among students, and contributing to the tourism industry that abounds in Rockport. I want to express my gratitude to all those who made this day possible. I look forward to returning to Rockport soon to see the new Art Center for myself.”
As you read in Mary Hime’s columns last year, we are fortunate to have been able to collaborate with some amazing people, entities and organizations to get this project to where it is today, including the City of Rockport. My sincere thanks to Mayor Patrick R. Rios and his staff.
Regards,
Rebecca Bridges Rice
President of the Board of Directors