Community Arts Center Being Formed

The Artistic Blends Coffee House is in the process of re-inventing itself as the Community Arts Center of Southwest Fort Worth, a nonprofit arts organization.

The Center came about as a result of the coffee house being forced to close due to financial constraints in April.

"We had met up with some business specialists and they were talking to me about what they were doing and both of them said that the arts were always subsidized and never have to pay their way," said Kenneth Brown, co-owner of the coffee house. "They suggested that we do away with the area where we were doing concerts, plays; etc. and create a non-profit."

A banker and other individuals have gathered together to collaborate with the project in the works which will result in Brown sub-leasing the coffee house.

"Basically we'll be doing things that we had been doing but with a lot of support," said Brown. "People are very supportive of what we're doing. The artists are excited about it because it's something for them."

Brown said the fundraising just began so it is kind of early to tell how it's going.

"The overhead was just more than we could do," he said. "Had it just been the front area we probably would've been breaking even. The business was growing and doing well for the business but it was just the overhead was just way more than we could absorb."

The coffee house staff has until July 15th to get to where they feel that the Center will have the funds to actually pay for the facility, not just for a month at a time, according to Brown. The amount of $50,000 has to be raised before the cutoff date. For this to happen 250 people would need to give gifts of $50, another 250 would need to donate $100, and 25 donors giving the amount of $500 or more. Corporate sponsors are also needed.

Brown said it was his first time running a coffee house, something that he and his wife Pamela talked about doing 29 years ago.