Foundation

History of the Clark Center for the Performing Arts

In the early 1980's, Clifford and Mary Lee Clark conceived the dream of a quality performing arts center on the campus of Arroyo Grande High School. In pursuit of that dream, the Clarks brought together a group of community leaders to lead a fund-raising campaign to build the center.

• 1986 the South County Performing Arts Foundation, a nonprofit corporation, was formed.
• In partnership with Lucia Mar Unified School District the Clark Center for the Performing Arts was conceived, planned, and funded.
• A capital campaign spanning nearly 15 years, the $9,000,000 to build the Center.
• 2002: The Clark Center for the Performing Arts opened realizing a dream that would serve both the educational needs of the School District in the performing arts, and the needs of the community at large for a professional arts venue in South County.

The Foundation today is committed to funding the perpetual maintenance, additions and upgrading of the Center so that it will always remain a state of the art facility.

The generous support of our community, partnering institutions, friends, and benefactors allows the Clark Center Foundation to continue in its tradition of financing grants and scholarships in the arts, educational outreach in the arts, and promoting the use of the Center for community presentations.

In order to continue the Foundation’s efforts in shaping the future of the Clark Center, a goal of $10,000,000 has been established by the Board of Directors to accomplish this task. Your tax deductible, 501 (c) (3) contributions will help us reach our goal and have a direct impact on the programs we offer to the community.

We invite you to join us by making a contribution today.

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