Lakewood's Beck Center Struggling for Cash and May Have to Shutter Its Doors

On of the most popular places to catch live theater in the Cleveland area says that they are in desperate need of money to survive. Lucinda Einhouse of the Beck Center, describes the Lakewood Beck Center as "in a crossroads" because money has dried up. She adds that if the Beck Center, which sits on coveted land on Detroit Ave, closes there is little chance that it would open its doors again.

Here is the letter in full:

Now is the critical time to support the Beck Center. Be a Beck champion -
In these tough economic times, people look for moments when they can smile. The Beck Center for the Arts was founded on the principle that music, theater, dance, painting, and other forms of art bring joy and comfort in good times and in bad.

The Beck Center now finds itself at a crossroads. Funding from our familiar sources is in short supply. In difficult economic times, arts organizations are particularly vulnerable, and we are pinching our pennies and stretching our dollars.

We now come to you for help. If the Beck Center cannot raise funds from new sources, we are in danger of closing. Our hallways, always echoing with laughter, music, and the promise of young talent, will be quiet.

We understand that our story is no different from many others these days. As a responsible non-profit, we are striving to be fiscally responsible and self sustaining. Over the past several years we have made progress, but now it is absolutely critical that we find new funding in order to remain a viable asset of our region. The Beck Center's regional impact of $10 million dollars every year would be sorely missed.

Yes, the economy is troubled. It will improve. It always does. But if the Beck Center closes now, there is little hope we will re-open.

The music will be silent. The dances will stop. The paints will remain sealed. The theater will be dark.

When times get better, what kind of community do we want to live in? One deprived of art or one whose sign reads "Open for Imagination"?

We are appealing to you to give whatever amount you can.
To donate now, click here.

Want to do more to help? Be our champion! Forward this message to at least 10 of your friends who would understand the value of the Beck Center and that the arts are absolutely critical in creating a vibrant, sustainable community. And if you have a personal story to tell about the Beck, please add it to your appeal.

On behalf of the community, families, and children that we serve, we thank you!

Sincerely,
Lucinda Einhouse

Beck Center for the Arts

Or mail donations to:
Beck Center for the Arts
17801 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, Ohio 44107

216.521.2540
www.beckcenter.org