“There is no argument that in the timeline of MAC accomplishments over the past three decades, the acquisition of the Ice House is the most significant,” said Jeanne Mozier, MAC’s founding president and still a member of the board of directors. “That’s why, along with eating birthday cake, the featured activity on Sunday will be tours of new spaces for art activities at the Ice House,” she said.

The public is invited to share the occasion with MAC members. “We plan only a brief business meeting to conduct our annual election,” said Ann Harkins, current president. “Then it is on to partying and touring. We are really proud of all the work that has been done on the building.”

Among the new spaces are a dance and movement studio on the second floor complete with wood floor, lockers and mirrors. By early June, classes will be available in a variety of dance styles from Friday evening ballroom dancing to international folk and modern dance. “In a way, this connects MAC to its roots,” said Mozier. “For the first three years, community square dances were the main activity sponsored by MAC.”

Mary Hott, MAC’s Executive Director, points with pride at newly opened spaces. “Even more than simply having more room, we are excited about all the new programming it allows us to offer the community.” With several additional classrooms, MAC is inaugurating regular Saturday art classes for both youth and adults in September. “We’ll be offering 36 weeks of classes in everything from fiber and performance to bookbinding,” said Hott. “Each class is ‘take and make.’ A person takes the class and goes home with something.” She said there will also be ongoing classes at other times.

Hott went on to praise all the volunteers that have been working the past couple weeks to prepare for the party. “There are beautiful new floor paintings in the theater lobby and one of the classrooms,.” In addition to artist-designed floors and mirrored walls in a dance studio, party goers are encouraged to visit the Delectable Mountains Quilt show which overflows the Gallery into newly painted halls and the newly refurbished Paradox Room.

“Volunteers are the most important resource we have,” said Harkins. She began listing all the tasks done by volunteers which include most of MAC’s programs and support activities. “Jeanne has us working on developing lists of all the people who have helped MAC over the years. There are literally hundreds of names and we’re still searching records and memories,” she said.

“I really like showing people the timeline for 30 years,” said Mozier. “Not only does it show how many activities MAC has started but also that success does not happen overnight.” Mozier highlighted what she believes are some of the most important milestones. “Concerts in the Park was a program we started for the 10th anniversary in 1987 and it is still our most popular,” she said. “Hosting the state’s first Arts Assembly in 1993 assured that everyone knew our name It led to Berkeley Springs being listed in the first 100 Best Art Towns book in 1995 and that encouraged an increase in artists migrating here,” she said. “But most of the exciting growth of the past decade is connected to getting the Ice House,” Mozier added, listing new activities like the community theater productions, afterschool programs, curated gallery shows and the Ice House Artist Co-op. “None of these important activities could have happened without a building.”

Hott seconded Mozier’s assessment of the importance of the Ice House. “In the months that I’ve been working for MAC, it seems that every innovative or growth-oriented idea relies on space in the Ice House,” she said. Hott is looking forward to expanding opportunities for local artists to teach classes at the Ice House and have studio space. “We are committed to moving as quickly as possible to finish the building,” she said, adding “but it’s all about finding funding.”

Mozier reminisced about the first public meeting in 1977. “When a handful of us started the arts council, I know we never imagined MAC would be the major force in the community that it is today,” she said “Most everyone recognizes how the growth of town is directly related to the arts and to what MAC has done.” Mozier continued, “what amazes me most is MAC’s financial growth. We paid for our first couple years with insurance money from smoke-damaged MAC teeshirts. This year, MAC projects an operating budget of more than $150,000 and that doesn’t include renovation money,” she said. “It’s a good thing we’ve gotten better at fundraising.”

The Ice House is located on Independence and Mercer in downtown Berkeley Springs,. For more information on MAC call 304-258-2300 or check online at www.macicehouse.org.