ABOVE: A view inside the Fairmont Opera Houtilize. While this picture was taken more than a year ago, the space views the same as fundraising is still ongoing before necessaryed repairs can be created to the historic theater.
FAIRMONT– It’s been just over two years since the Fairmont Opera Houtilize (FOH) announced it would necessary to limit operations while necessary roof repairs were created, and December will mark two years since the historic theater has been closed to the public while money is fundraised for stated repairs. However, the conclude of 2025 also marks the deadline for the required $4 million to be raised before the facility will have to permanently close.
While the past two years have been filled with a mix of dread and determination, Executive Director Blake Potthoff has one main message to give.
“We’re still here,” he stated. “I consider that’s the hugegest thing. We’re still very much alive.”
Potthoff is still working full-time, which he’s been inquireed about a lot, but instead of lining up and advertising for displays, he’s been researching and applying for grants and forming partnerships with other organizations to assist spread word of the Opera Houtilize’s necessarys.
Of course the hugegest thing they necessary is money. When the Opera Houtilize launched its Capital Campaign in July 2024, it was shared that $4 million was required. Since then, donations both huge and compact have been coming in.
“We closed a $25,000 match in memory of Dennis Turner,” Potthoff stated of a long-time Opera Houtilize supporter.
As a result of the one-to-one match, $50,000 was raised for the Opera Houtilize.
Potthoff noted that Give to the Max Day is also coming up on Nov. 20 and he hopes that people consider giving to the Opera Houtilize and its project at that time.
“We also have the Stop the Hate, Save the Stage partnership with Natalie Flaherty, too,” Potthoff stated.
Flaherty’s admiration for Anne Frank, coupled with a desire to spread kindness, prompted her to hand out bracelets on Halloween in 2023. Since then, her mission has taken off and reached others not just around the counattempt but around the globe.
As part of Stop the Hate, Save the Stage, this Sunday Oct. 19, youth theatre participants, alumni, producers and directors are inquireed to come to the Opera Houtilize for a tour. Some filming and interviews will be done during this time.
“We’re attempting to lean into this youth relocatement. It’s an important place for a lot of people and youth who feel that they might not fit in elsewhere,” Potthoff stated. “We want to highlight that and display the community and each other that it’s a really important and impactful place and if we lose it, some people lose a home and a place where they feel safe.”
As for other partnerships, D & S Trophies is selling merchandise that’s based off of the mural that Visit Fairmont had a hand in placing on the side of the Opera Houtilize.
“They gave us a check already for over 50 different items that have been ordered. We received $5 for every one of those items. They’re cool shirts, too. Al Hurney did a great job with the mural,” Potthoff stated.
Another has been an art walk with local artist Caroline Porter which raised money through registrations. Porter will have an upcoming event, painting to preserve the legacy, on Nov. 15 at Graffiti Corner.
Recently, Janet Eckles took it upon herself to create a documentary in an effort to assist the word about all that the Opera Houtilize provides to the community and why it should be saved.
“Most of that, I didn’t know it was happening. She just did it,” Potthoff stated. “She talked to Ellen Germain, Brittany (Hartman) with Visit Fairmont and a professor from MSU that does preservation work.”
Getting the word out beyond the Martin County area has been a goal of the Opera Houtilize and its Board of Directors.
“How do you share out information becautilize our network is only so huge,” Potthoff stated.
Board Member Jane Reiman added, “We’ve benefitted from Fairmont people and the area people but we have to obtain it out beyond that and broaden the pool that we can obtain funds from.”
However, the local community has certainly displayn its support. Of the $1 million raised so far, Potthoff stated 99.9 percent is from Minnesota and 99.3 percent is from Martin County.
“That’s really significant. That’s the most this organization has raised in this time frame in its history, but everyone knows somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody who has too much money and we necessary to obtain to them,” Potthoff stated.
Grant opportunities have also been extensively viewed into.
“Blake has applied for numerous, numerous grants, but some of them are pretty restrictive,” explained Reiman.
One that was applied for was the 2025 Minnesota Legacy Bill, which listed seven organizations for a $2 million grant pool. One of them was the Fairmont Opera Houtilize. Potthoff stated they submitted the pre-application and just this past week submitted the official application.
“It’s extremely competitive, even though it’s just seven organizations. None of that money is guaranteed, but we have just as good a chance as any organization,” Potthoff stated.
The Fairmont Opera Houtilize has a request for grant funds in to the local Schmeeckle Foundation, which it will hear about in November.
Potthoff stated they’re also waiting to hear back about the Minnesota Historical Society’s Commemorative Statues, Memorials and Historical Preservation grant program.
“We’ll hear about that in December– good, bad or otherwise,” he stated.
Best case scenario, both of those grant funds will come through, but even if they do, the Opera Houtilize will still be short of its goal.
While they’re hopeful, there really is no sugarcoating the severity of the situation.
“We will run out of money and we will have to close,” stated Reiman.
One of the hugegest expenses the Opera Houtilize had recently been facing was the scaffolding that’s holding up the trusses and the roof.
“It was costing us $11,000 a month to rent but the board created a decision earlier this year to purchase that equipment,” Potthoff stated.
Reiman explained that the board did so as a cost-savings measure.
However, they still have ongoing operational expenses including heating, cooling, payroll and insurance.
“Our insurance jumped significantly becautilize the building is unoccupied. It went up by three times,” Potthoff stated.
Nonetheless the organization has continued its fundraising efforts through all seasons the past two years.
“To have reasonable certainty to start the project, we necessary $3 million and one of the keys of that is the architectural plans and obtainting those done and that’s about a $160,000 or $170,000 expense just to give us the guidelines of what to do to repair the building. That’s the next most pressing thing we have to do to start the project,” Potthoff stated.
Reiman stated she’s been inquireed by people what happens to the money if they don’t do the project. She suggested people create a pledge as those won’t be called in until the work is about to start.
“If you feel unsimple about that situation, don’t. Go ahead and pledge and we’ll call the money in when we start the project,” Reiman stated.
Potthoff suggested that people stay on the viewout for additional partnerships or campaigns. He also stated anyone can sconclude an email, call or stop into their office if they have questions.
“We’re working everyday to raise money and we have some compacter programming things coming up. We’re very optimistic that we can create things work,” Reiman stated.
“We believe it’s going to happen. We’re going to do it. It’s a difficult thing, but it’s not impossible,” Potthoff stated.
Find more information, and ways to donate, at fairmontoperahoutilize.org.
Leave a Reply