John Coffelt, Editor

After several capital expenses that depleted its coffers, the Manchester Arts Center is working to remedy some of those losses through a Save the MAC event Sept. 6, from 4-7 p.m.

The Manchester Arts Center, located at 128 E. Main Street, is a separate organization from its tenet organization Millennium Repertory Company. The MAC handles the operation of the facility and its upkeep, while MRC produces the shows that are held there.   

MAC Vice-Chair Danelle Afflerbaugh said that, while no single event has caused the MAC’s financial situation, a series of events leading up to the pandemic have taken a toll on the center.

“The roof needed to be fully replaced…and then both HVAC units a year or two after that needed to be replaced and then COVID happened,” Afflerbaugh said. 

When the pandemic shut down all live performances, it also derailed MAC fundraising events like Dancing with the Coffee County Stars and a Casino Night gala.

“When COVID hit and takes away all of that, there’s no income at all and no ability to raise funds,” Afflerbaugh said. “Even for the year or two after COVID, we would try to do our big fundraiser and all the businesses that had been supportive were in a tight spot just like we were.”

The MAC adapted with smaller fundraisers – the Haunted Theater, the Homeschool Prom and the Duck River Dance’s Nutcracker (though that debuted prior to the pandemic).

“Over the course of a few years, there have been a few things that caused it to dwindle and dwindle,” Afflerbaugh said.

On top of that, the operating costs for supplies like toiletries and utilities have risen. Afflerbaugh said last month’s electric bill was over $1,000. 

“It’s an expensive facility to maintain and our budget is dwindling, so we decided to pull the curtain back and let people know what’s happening. I think there is a tremendous amount of people in this community who would be supportive, but it’s just off their radar,” she said.

Afflerbaugh said the MAC is an important asset in the community.   

“Instead of putting together a big gala this year, we thought let’s just invite people who know it and support it as well as those who maybe have never been there to come a see what it’s about.”

There will be backstage tours, peeks at the lighting booth, the prop room workshop and a chance to see some of the projects like a dressing room revamp or an 1960-era electrical panel upgrade that’s been financially out of reach.

Also at the event will be artists present who display works in the lobby gallery and  Miss Chattanooga Volunteer Colleen Wainright who has presented a theater workshop at the MAC. On the stage throughout the day, DRD and MRC performers will showcase their skills with brief performances.

“We want people to understand what the arts center is and how valuable it is,” Afflerbaugh said.

The event is free. Tours and performances will begin every 30 minutes. No donation is too small.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.