FORKS — A $30,000 grant to the Rainforest Art Center in Forks should help keep patrons and entertainers dry — at least while in the building.
The Rainforest Art Center, 35 N. Forks Ave., was given the grant by the Benjamin N. Phillips Memorial Fund, a Seattle Foundation.
The building, owned by the city of Forks, has had some “dripping” problems lately, said Mike Gurling, building manager.
“We are really excited about this grant,” he said.
“Now all we need is for the weather to cooperate.”
Three dry days are needed to do the work.
“We did a plea for this grant earlier this year because we had buckets all over the area where we do our plays,” Gurling said.
“It actually started to become a joke, but we were concerned about the integrity of the building.”
The building was originally the International Order of Odd Fellows Hall, built in 1925.
A partnership of the Rainforest Players and the West Olympic Council for the Arts currently rents and maintains the building, Gurling said.
A requirement of the grant was that the city extend the lease for 15 years — which the City Council did Oct. 11, Gurling said.
With the grant and money from other fundraisers, the roof will be replaced as soon as the weather allows by Advanced Construction & Roofing LLC.
Earlier this year, the plea for help resulted in $4,000 in donations from: First Federal, Jim and Donna Bledsoe, Ben and Kay Lonn, the Forks Hoh Downers square dance group, Gurling and Pat Dorst.
For the past 13 years, the Rainforest Art Center has been used for live theatrical plays, music concerts, dances, weddings, haunted houses, education and art workshops and a high school prom.
Since 1997 the Rainforest Players and West Olympic Council for the Arts have been renovating the building, Gurling said.
The external walls were insulated, new windows were installed, a used heating system added, new restrooms constructed, stairs covered, back stairs rebuilt, all surfaces painted and the front of the building renovated.
An elevator was installed to make the top floor of the building accessible to everyone to allow participation in activities.
All previous work was done using donations and other grants.
The next event at the Rainforest Art Center is the Rainforest Players’ production of four one-act plays the last weekend of October and the first weekend of November.
Performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
For further information, phone Gurling at 360-374-2531.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladaily news.com.
