Hamilton (OH) – A gift from the Harry T. Wilks Family Foundation funded technology enhancements for studio classrooms at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts.
The Wilks Foundation gift provided new digital screens, whiteboards, projectors, sound bars and connection equipment in five studio classrooms. Vitas Technologies and TAMZ Construction Inc. did the installation work to bring the equipment online.
On April 24 - as the first classes and workshops to benefit from the upgrades kicked off the Summer I education session - the Fitton Center hosted a dedication event to celebrate.
Instructor Lori Kay Farr demonstrated some of the capabilities in the mosaic studio at the conclusion of her Creative Aging Mosaics class.
Harry Wilks’ daughter – Barbara Wilks – was on hand for the celebration, along with representatives from TAMZ, Vitas, the Fitton Center board and staff members. TvHamilton recorded the event.
“The Fitton Center greatly appreciates the generosity of the Wilks Foundation with the recent support of the technology upgrades for our education studios,” said Ian MacKenzie-Thurley, executive director. “This is an outstanding asset for our instructors and students.
“And we’re grateful to our partners at Vitas and TAMZ for their expertise in getting these enhancements installed and running smoothly in time for our summer class sessions. These upgrades will benefit hundreds of students each session for years to come.”
Director of Education Kate Rowekamp agreed.
“Now our teachers can show videos to their classes to enhance their hands-on instruction,” she said. “With dedicated equipment in each studio, we don’t have to worry about shuffling a projector from room to room or scheduling who can use it when. It’s all right there, all the time.”
Wilks – a well-known Hamilton philanthropist who passed away 10 years ago at the age of 89 – was a fervent advocate for the arts and education. A graduate of both Hamilton High School and Miami University, he may be best known as the founder of Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park.
Among many other causes, Wilks also established and supported the Hamilton City Education Awards, the Wilks Scholarship Program providing tuition assistance at Miami Hamilton and the Harry T. Wilks Leadership Institute at Miami Oxford to develop ethical and transformational leadership.
The Fitton Center for Creative Arts is located at 101 S. Monument Avenue on the Riverfront in downtown Hamilton, Ohio.
Building Community Excellence through the Arts and Culture
Comments