As many county residents know by now, Edgefield Regional Arts has executed an option-to-purchase agreement to convert the former Edgefield Advertiser building into a regional community theater.

With a capacity of 362, the theater will allow for legitimate theater and movies, and will lend itself as well to graduations, lecture series, poetry readings, choral and instrumental recitals and contests, school plays, other community events of various kinds, and convenient meeting spaces for groups both large and small.

The project, which has been in development for several years, is now ready to go.

ERA has until May to raise the necessary $256,000 to purchase the building.

A fund-raising committee has been formed with the intention of involving as many residents of Edgefield County as possible in the purchase and development of the project.

In order to attract government and corporate funding, it is essential to show that the community is behind our theater, and the best way to prove that is to have wide community participation in funding the purchase of the building.

Representatives from the fund-raising committee will be contacting potential prospects over the next few weeks, in order to solicit contributions during the 2008 tax year.

All donations are welcome, of any size. Contributions bring us closer to our goal.

Contributions are fully tax-deductible. Make checks out to Edgefield Regional Arts Theatre Project, and mail them to ERA Theater Project 204 Augusta Rd., Edgefield, SC 29824.

Thank you for your support.

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