CEDAR RAPIDS – The Eastern Iowa Arts Academy began with 110 students at McKinley Middle School in the fall of 2007.

Four years later, the organization serves more than 1,700 students in multiple Cedar Rapids schools and human service agencies – and is ready to take the next step to solidify its presence in the community.

The academy is raising funds to “establish roots” and claim a permanent home in Cedar Rapids' Mound View Neighborhood.

“It's taken us four years to build the foundation, but it's always been in the back of our minds that we needed a permanent home,” Executive Director David Griffin said.

The facility would serve as the academy's main administrative office and be a site for after school, evening and summer programming for kindergarten through 12

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grade students. Griffin said the organization would also share its building with community non-profit organizations, offering space for meetings and workshops.

“Our first goal has always been to provide high-quality opportunities for children to explore, excel at and develop an appreciation for the visual and performing arts,” Griffin said. “Our second goal is community outreach.”

The Eastern Iowa Arts Academy partners with 13 area human service agencies, providing arts programming at Taylor Cub Club, Four Oaks Asperger's Program and Tanager Place, among others. The organization also has a longstanding partnership with the Cedar Rapids school district and is in the preliminary stages of a partnership with the Cedar Rapids Police Department.

“If this facility all comes together, the police department can share this facility and be a presence in the community,” Tracy McPartland, the academy's board president, said.

Griffin said the academy chose the Mound View location because of its close proximity to several elementary and middle schools, and the need for positive after school and summer opportunities for youth in the area.

“We know that there's a need in that neighborhood,” he said.

The organization isn't releasing the address of the facility at this time because a rental agreement hasn't been finalized. However, funds are being raised to make the renovation a reality.

The Eastern Iowa Arts Academy hopes to raise $30,000 to cover renovation costs, and rental and utilities for one year. The fundraising process has started. Griffin said work on the facility depends on how quickly the money can be raised.

“Time frame-wise, it could be two months from now, one month or this fall,” Griffin said.

Griffin stressed that the facility wouldn't replace Eastern Iowa Arts Academy's presence in schools and other organizations. All classes, from music and dance, to drama and painting, will continue to be offered throughout the Cedar Rapids area. The facility would simply be a new location.

Griffin said it will include “The Cave” – a creative venue for music, theater and dance instruction and performance. An “Arts Imaginarium” creative studio to explore the visual arts, creative writing and cultural arts also will be part of the facility.

“We're very excited about this location and what the facility will mean for the community,” he said. “We've had great support from the Mound View Neighborhood Association and the Cedar Rapids Neighborhood Association.”

If you or your business is interested in making a pledge or donation to the Eastern Iowa Arts Academy, call (319) 350-1805 or e-mail

info@eaaprogram.com. More information about Eastern Iowa Arts Academy, including programs and schedules, can be found at

http://eaaprogram.com