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If everything goes as planned, the center — which would include an art gallery, a concert hall, two classrooms and practice rooms, a recording studio, choral rehearsal spaces and a shop for building theater sets — will open in the fall of 2011.
"The university's master plan has had this in mind for nearly 30 years," said John Short, Millersville's dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
"Having this center is a way to bring the arts even further into the Millersville community," he said, "as well as a place to help ignite the imagination of our students."
The center would be built near the intersection of North Prince Street and West Cottage Avenue, according to project manager Steve Strock. It will be adjacent to the Stayer Education Building and its entrance will be on West Cottage Avenue.
Short said the new building will be able to serve as a center for plays, poetry readings and exhibitions of the visual arts, among other activities.
"And with the concert hall," he said, "it means we have more options, especially when it comes to music. With this space, we'll be able to bring even more world-class artists to our region."
Millersville University spokeswoman Janet Kacskos said the center is being funded primarily by the state Department of General Services, which is providing $14 million for the project.
Despite Pennsylvania's budget crisis, Steven Dupes of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education said the funds for the Millersville project are "pretty secure."
Dupes said the money will come from the state's capital projects fund.
"You typically don't see cuts in this area," he said. "I don't want to say it can't happen, but it would take an extreme situation. To this point, I haven't gotten any indication that anything is coming this way."
Of the remaining $12 million needed for building, Kacskos said half is being financed by the university through private donations and fundraising efforts, with the remaining $6 million coming from a general obligation bond.
"Right now, we're about 60 percent through the design phase and we're hoping to be able to put the project out to bid by the end of this year," Strock said. "This is a move that, among many other things, will serve to bring the music department all into one building, plus give needed space to the university's visual and performing arts programs."
Staff writer Jenn Todd contributed to this report.
