The Eureka Springs School of the Arts (ESSA) is excited to share campus expansion plans, as they prepare for long-term sustainability through the purchase of property adjacent to their current campus.

The campus expansion will allow ESSA to immediately construct a new, highly visible entrance that will be safer and easier to navigate than the current one-lane, low visibility entrance. Looking to the future, the property purchase will provide flat terrain for future campus development and facility expansion to add teaching studios for arts programs, artist in residence studios, community gathering spaces, and more. This space will allow ESSA to engage the community, inspire students to reach new heights, and create a solid foundation for future growth.

ESSA has launched a capital campaign to raise funds for the purchase of the adjacent property and to complete initial improvements, such as building a new entrance and adding necessary signage. ESSA has already made significant progress toward the campaign goal of $850,000, having received a transformative leadership gift from an individual donor, numerous gifts from dedicated supporters of ESSA and a generous foundation gift from the Windgate Foundation.

In addition to a cash gift toward the purchase of the adjacent property, the Windgate Foundation has issued a challenge grant of $175,000 that provides a dollar-to-dollar match for all pledges and donations (applying to gifts received after Nov. 1, 2024). Any contribution made will therefore be doubled by a matching contribution from the Windgate Foundation.

In response to the challenge grant, CS Bank has stepped up to lead the final phase of the capital campaign with a pledge to donate $50,000 over a period of two years. Charlie Cross, CEO of CS Bank, discussed the positive impact that ESSA has on the community and why CS Bank supports the project.

“Our bank is pleased to provide this monetary donation to support the worthwhile endeavors at ESSA,” Cross said. “As is widely known, the arts is sewn into the fabric of our community here in Eureka Springs and the work that ESSA continues to do is invaluable to enhancing our area’s reputation in this regard. Thus, the efforts to grow and improve the ESSA campus experience is something our company is proud to help facilitate, as that work is impactful to the quality of life of our city, its residents and visitors.”

Of the donation, ESSA’s board chair, Suzanne Reed, said: “Community partners create long-lasting impact — CS Bank’s dedication to ESSA builds a legacy of the arts that helps transform our community. Thank you for inspiring change and growth.”

The Windgate Foundation will match this generous gift from CS Bank dollar for dollar, bringing ESSA within reach of the finish line.

Thanks to generous contributions from CS Bank and other donors, ESSA has already made significant progress toward reaching its matching grant goal. To trigger the matching funds from the Windgate Foundation, ESSA must raise just under $57,000 to meet the challenge grant and complete the entire $850,000 campaign.

ESSA executive director Kelly Mc-Donough, expressed optimism about the final lap of the campaign, saying: “We’re deeply grateful to all who support ESSA — our generous donors and the many volunteers, artists, and community members who’ve given of their time and talent to ESSA over the past 27 years. This exciting new phase of growth is built on the foundation laid by all who have championed ESSA from the very beginning, and we can’t wait to celebrate this expansion milestone with our community!”

Completion of the current capital campaign will allow ESSA to move forward with the next phase of campus development that will have a generational impact.

To learn more about ESSA’s capital campaign, visit https:// essa-art.org/capital-campaign/ or call McDonough at 479253-5384.

Pictured clockwise from back left are Eureka Springs School of the Arts co-founder Doug Stowe, ESSA board member James White, CS Bank president Jason Tennant, CS Bank CEO Charlie Cross, CS Bank senior vice president Tammy Bullock, ESSA board member Todd Paden, CS Bank executive vice president Melissa Casey, ESSA co-founder Mary Springer, ESSA board members Angela Robert and Terry Martin, ESSA board president Suzanne Reed and ESSA executive director Kelly Mc-Donough.

Pictured clockwise from back left are Eureka Springs School of the Arts staff member Megan Abajian, ESSA co-founder Doug Stowe, ESSA board member James White, CS Bank president Jason Tennant, ESSA staff members Brynna Mollahan and Emily Hartley, CS Bank CEO Charlie Cross, CS Bank senior vice president Tammy Bullock, ESSA board member Todd Paden, CS Bank executive vice president Melissa Casey, ESSA staff member Marisa Mays (back), ESSA staff members Chrissie Heavenridge and Stacie Primeaux, ESSA co-founder Mary Springer, ESSA board members Angela Robert and Terry Martin, ESSA board president Suzanne Reed, ESSA executive director Kelly McDonough and ESSA staff members Nikki Schaefer and Dawn Ward (front far left).