The Sunrise Rotary Club recently supported the establishment of the new performing arts theater located at the Tannery Arts Center in Santa Cruz. The Performing Arts Theatre, known as the Colligan Theater, consists of 250 seats in an intimate setting to allow for locally produced theatre. The Sunrise Rotary Club donated $10,000 to the Board of Directors, (as a sustaining member) support the construction of the theater.
In addition to this donation, the Sunrise Rotary Club contracted with a local Concrete “artistic” Contractor (Tom Ralston Concrete) to design, create, and build a unique curved and circular concrete bench which anchors the outdoor circular Terrace encompassing the public gathering space. The design of the bench is exceptional in that it showcases a bronze swirling octopus (Sean Monaghan, Bronzeworks) embracing a stylistic and industrial Rotary Wheel! It is a fascinating and remarkable design. In addition, on both sides of the bench the artist provided a bronze Rotary Wheel emblem, commemorating Rotary International.
The project was finished in December of 2015, and the bench is dated as such under the bronze Rotary wheel. The Sunrise Rotary Club hopes that many future generations will find the bench an attractive and pleasing addition to the unique Tanner Arts Center village.