Arts Center canceled, $2.3M in donations to be returned

COLLIN COUNTY -- It required a judge's signature to put the final nail in the coffin for the Arts Center of North Texas.

Plans for an Arts Center of North Texas (ACNT) were canceled Thursday as the Collin County judge signed an order dissolving the project. It's a project that has been in the works since before 2002.

"It was so close to happening. And it's just a shame that it didn't work. We were almost there," said Plano Mayor Harry LaRosiliere.

It was "almost" for several years and then not enough to make the 2,100-seat arts hall happen.

Court documents detail the slow demise.

During a recession the "failure of funding," wavering city support, and several other factors ultimately forced organizers to "abandon the Arts." But documents also show the solution, said former executive director of three-and-a-half years, Mike Simpson, who hasn't played a role in the center in some time.

"I do think it's the best solution that we can come up with right now, all things considered," he said.

$2.3 million in donations will be redistributed to Plano, Allen and Frisco -- the three member cities of the Arts Center of North Texas. Each will receive an equal amount, around $750,000. Also, 124 acres will also be returned to the landowner, who initially donated the land.

A planned 2,100-seat arts hall in Collin County was canceled Thursday with a judge's signature. News 8's Jobin Panicker has more.

Each city has already designated where that money will go. In most cases, for programs that involve kids.

The following was provided to us by Allen and Plano:

The Allen Arts Alliance will receive funding for a multi-year, community-wide initiative to engage students (7th-10th grades), the library, and local arts organizations in programs that will connect the subjects of art and science.

Other organizations receiving funding include:

ArtCentre of Plano was announced by the city as the recipient of its share of the returned funds. ArtsCentre will receive $250,000 from the city that will go toward the Saigling House Project. The remaining $500,000 will go toward renovations and related expenses, according to a release from the city's media relations office.

"Use the funds in a manner that will honor those people who made the donations with good intentions," said Mayor LaRosiliere.

We asked Frisco how they intend to use their funds as well, but had not received a response as of Thursday night.

Under state law, the funds from the ACNT must be re-purposed for projects similar to the donations' original intent, meaning the money will be re-allocated to an arts project.

The former executive director said the Arts Center of North Texas answered a need, and may still.

"I think this will prompt one or more of the cities to find a way to do their own hall," Simpson said.