Community support and fundraising drive efforts for a revitalized arts hub

By Hayley Mattson and Camille DeVaul

ATASCADERO — The historic Atascadero Printery received a significant boost during its most recent workday, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Grizzly Youth Academy cadets. The monthly event, which gathers board members and volunteers to maintain the site, saw an exceptional turnout as the cadets teamed up with the foundation for the first time.

“This was a major cleanup,” said Karen McNamara, president of the Printery Foundation. “With the help of all the Grizzly cadets, we were able to clear out construction debris from recent wall work and remnants from previous demolition projects.”

The extensive work included removing plaster bags from upstairs walls, constructing a chute to efficiently dispose of debris, and organizing waste management to donate a dumpster to facilitate the cleanup. The cadets also took on landscaping tasks, cutting weeds and tidying both the interior and exterior of the building.

Their efforts made a tremendous impact. “It was amazing. On the first day, we hosted lunch for them, and at the end, I took a moment to thank them for their hard work,” McNamara said. “I told them that in just one day, they accomplished what would have taken our board and volunteers an entire year. It was absolutely incredible.”

“We had so many amazing sponsors for this cleanup, like Waste Management, Grocery Outlet, and many others who made it all possible,” McNamara added. “It’s such a great feeling to drive by the site or walk through the building and think, ‘Wow, look at what we’ve accomplished.’ We’re already planning for them to return in May to continue work inside the building.”

The Atascadero Printery Foundation continues to make significant strides in its restoration efforts, with its current focus on securing funding for seismic retrofitting. According to McNamara, the foundation has been making steady progress, raising enough funds to complete at least one major project each year. Last year’s achievements included the creation of an outdoor stage and the enclosure of the gymnasium’s back wall.

Home Depot has been a vital supporter of the foundation, contributing materials and sending volunteers from Team Depot to assist with the restoration efforts. Atascadero Mayor Charles Bourbeau has also played an active role in enhancing the site’s appearance.

“He’s been working on the landscaping, making the outside of the building look so much better,” McNamara said. “With the flowers and everything, it no longer looks like an abandoned space. He’s put in a lot of effort, and we’re incredibly grateful for his help.”

When asked whether these sponsors would assist more frequently with similar projects, McNamara replied, “Yes! They said it was a great project for them — it’s straightforward, and they know exactly what to do. They’re super efficient — just hand them the tools, and they go straight to work on the outside cleanup. Inside, they followed instructions so well. You could give them basic tasks, and they’d get right to it. It was amazing to see about 15 people marching up the stairs with brooms, dustpans, and vacuums. Having the upstairs cleaned up felt so good!”

In addition to beautification efforts, fundraising remains a key focus. “We’re collaborating with the city to secure government funding and exploring partnerships with nonprofits that could have a future at The Printery,” McNamara explained. “[Atascadero City Manager] Jim Lewis has been meeting with several organizations to gauge their interest in using the space. If we can come together, we can complete the retrofit and get everyone moved in.” Ongoing discussions are being held with groups such as the North County Youth Symphony, Opera San Luis Obispo, and Cal Poly, which is considering offering adult education programs at the site.

With 19,000 square feet of space, the foundation is focused on transforming The Printery into a hub for arts, education, and community services. Future plans include expanding the building with an additional 4,000 to 5,000 square feet for a dedicated theater space.

“We offer tours,” McNamara explained.  “Anyone can call to set up a time. We’re trying to get as many people through as possible because, once they see it in person, it really changes their perspective.”

To sustain its restoration efforts, The Printery Foundation is hosting a series of fundraisers. The ongoing “Adopt a Window” campaign aims to restore all 21 windows on the front façade, with each window costing $3,750 to repair. Additionally, the foundation’s Brick by Brick initiative continues to generate support by offering personalized bricks for the stage wall.

Several events are lined up to unite the community and raise funds for ongoing projects. The Mother’s Day Pasta Meal fundraiser will kick things off in May, followed by the highly anticipated July 4th Music Festival in the Park. This festival, featuring a mix of bluegrass and new grass acts, is being coordinated by Tiny Porch Concerts of Agoura Hills. Formerly hosted by Colony Days, the event will now be organized by The Printery Foundation, with proceeds benefiting their initiatives. To continue the momentum, The Printery will also host a three-part concert series called Tent City Limits featuring well-known musical talents.

“We’re excited to take over the July 4th music festival this year,” said McNamara. “We’ll be doing a series of three concerts called Tent City Limits, with performances in August, September, and October, featuring some great names on our Printery stage. Additionally, we’ll host our annual talent show in August. As for the July 4th festival, we’re partnering with Tiny Porch Concerts to bring in top-notch entertainment. Mike and Nikki Cordore are handling the entertainment lineup, and we’ve already secured one group, with a few more to come, plus a community band made up of local performers like Tuscarora.”

The event will run from 3 to 8 p.m., with a community band performance at 3 p.m. and additional acts from 4 to 8 p.m. McNamara also mentioned the possibility of incorporating a drone show over the lake, replacing the traditional fireworks, though they are still in search of a local vendor to make it happen.

“I remember how packed Lake Park used to get on July 4th, with games, food, and fireworks over the lake,” McNamara reflected. “It was a massive community event. When the city stopped doing fireworks, the event faded, but Nic Mattson [Co-Founder of 13 Stars Media] had the foresight to bring back the Bluegrass Concert.”

Mattson organized and created the 4th of July Bluegrass Freedom Festival as a fundraiser for Colony Days in 2017 during his tenure as a board member.  

“Unfortunately, Colony Days couldn’t staff it this year, so they asked if we’d take over, and we said, yeah, heck yeah, we’ll do it,” McNamara stated. “It’ll be a fundraiser for us, with food, drinks, and ticket sales going toward supporting our cause.”

The annual Founders Gala on Nov. 8 will mark the grand finale of this year’s fundraising efforts with a special celebration.

Looking ahead, McNamara remains optimistic about the future. “We’ve made incredible progress. With the right funding, we could have the main building open within a year. It’s all about pulling together resources and making this happen for the community,” she said.

For more information or to get involved, visit The Printery Foundation’s website at atascaderoprintery.org

Feature Image: Atascadero Mayor Charles Bourbeau (right) helped out with the landscaping during the most recent work day at the Printery building. Photo by Rick Evans/ATN