Members of the Pro Auditorio project to renovate the Auditorio de la Ribera del Lago are starting to breathe a little easier.
After several months of fund-raising events, raffles, cash donations and pledges, the coffers are filled to within 100,000 pesos of the one-million-peso goal.That is the amount needed to qualify for matching grants from Mexico’s federal government and the Jalisco Culture Secretariat.
The first year of work by Pro-Auditorio was spent preparing a professional analysis and recommendations for improvement, presenting the report to government agencies and politicians and applying for matching grants. The second year has been dedicated to raising the million pesos required from the community.
“We have had many successful fundraising events, including Noche Mexicana, Really Big Lip-Sync Show, Comedy Capers—Music Makers, Colors and Taste of Ajijic and Dancing Lips-Sync,” says John Keeling, President of Pro Auditorio. “We are very grateful for all the hard work of more than a hundred willing and talented volunteers who made these events successful.”
Pro Auditorio has received major donations from VIVA la Musica!, Scotiabank Northern Lights Festival and the MAS Musica. Currently, Los Cantantes del Lago is running a big raffle that will be a major contributor. Many individuals in the Lakeside community have made generous donations as well.The 100,000-peso shortfall is required by March 1 in order for construction to begin in April. The plan is to close the auditorium from April to September to upgrade the electrical wiring, install new air conditioning and make acoustical improvements, such as putting in double sets of doors at all four exits.
The recommendations and estimates from the technical support covered only basic infrastructure upgrades to improve the internal functioning of the building. It did not consider the exterior of the building or any beautification. The cost of the recommended improvements was estimated to be 4.7 million pesos. Grant approval, however, was based on a total of only three million pesos. When the construction contract is awarded supporters will know exactly how much can be done for that amount.
Chapala city authorities are preparing the construction documents as part of their donation to the project, along with supplying publicity materials for many of the fund-raising events.
Auditorio de la Ribera del Lago is an essential part of the Lakeside community, hosting a range of events from school graduations to concerts, dance presentations, student recitals and seminars. Events fill the building nearly every day, year round. Donations may be made by deposit to the Pro Auditorio account number 6679559 at Banco Actinver.