Artists' haven in financial peril

The Aquadome faces an uncertain future because of financial difficulties, including a debt of about $300.

Located at 121 N. Main St. behind the Downtown Cinema 8, the Aquadome is a non-profit organization run by a committee of four Truman students and one former student. It is a haven for local bands and artists, said senior Kathy Widitz, one of the committee members. She said the Aquadome always has had financial trouble, but the trouble has escalated recently.

"We are struggling to pay rent and electricity right now," Widitz said.

Widitz said the Aquadome traditionally made money from rock 'n' roll shows, band fests and donations. The recent cold weather has caused many shows to be delayed, and the Aquadome has been unable to raise sufficient funds to meet expenses. The committee members who operate the Aquadome have often covered the lack of money.

Widitz said they have not discussed what will happen if the Aquadome is unable to raise more funds.

"We will try to get some people to loan us some money like we have done in the past," Widitz said.

Senior Kristen Halet, also a committee member, said no single person is in charge. In addition to Halet and Widitz, junior Nicole Rainey, Kirksville resident Chris Scheets and Truman graduate Nick Kuntz serve on the committee.

Students raised $120 from a carnival Saturday at the Aquadome to help with its financial woes. Rainey was in charge of organizing the event and publicity. There were seven booths, including mashed-potato throwing, crafts, food booths, a cakewalk, fake tattoos, face painting and clowns.

Graduate student Suzanne Chappelow went to the carnival and said she had fun.

"I especially liked the potato throwing," Chappelow said.

She said she was disappointed by the turnout, however.

Rainey said the Aquadome will have more events when the weather becomes warmer.

Widitz manages the Aquadome's finances. She said committee members were hoping to raise enough money from the carnival to pay for the rent of the building, heat and electricity. Monthly rent for the building is $400. Money for past events has come from various loans.

"We normally don't get large donations from one place," Widitz said.

The Aquadome opened in May 2000 and is known for its shows and dances. Several Kirksville bands such as Enfighting, Dumpster Dive Bombers, and Johnny Comrade and the Soviettes have performed at the Aquadome.

"We have a lot of local bands  [that] play here," Widitz said.

The Aquadome also has hosted musicians from various music genres, including alternative rock, emo bands and folk music with artists such as Ivan Klipstien and Allette Brooks.

The Aquadome is divided into an upper floor and a lower floor.

The first floor is where shows and dinners take place. Rainey said vegan dinners are served at 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and a vegan potluck dinner takes place at 6:30 p.m. every Sunday

Widitz said art studios, the Junkyard, where artists can get supplies and materials for free, and band practice areas are on the second floor. Artists have used the studios in the past and in return donated money to the Aquadome to help pay for the building's rent. Paul Kingston and Scheets are the artists  who currently are using the space on the upper floor of the Aquadome.

Bands that have used the space on the upper floor also have donated money to the Aquadome as well.

The walls of the Aquadome are covered with advertisement fliers for bands, art shows such as Tom Thumb Art Gallery, and independent and student movies that have been shown there.

"What the community wants, the Aquadome is," Rainey said.