A crowd gathers to watch the ribbon cutting for the McClarty Center for Fine and Performing Arts on Tuesday morning at Reedley College. Photo by Gabriel Dillard

The first performer at the McClarty Center for Fine and Performing Arts on Tuesday was tree fruit grower Harold McClarty, reading a poem written by his 10-year-old granddaughter.

McClarty’s $1 million donation was pivotal in getting the $30 million performing arts center constructed on the Reedley College campus. McClarty is CEO of Kingsburg-based HMC Farms, a fifth-generation family grower of tree fruit, table and specialty grapes.

With his four grandchildren front and center during the ribbon cutting and onstage at his side, McClarty said it was for future generations he was moved to help build a community space for artistic expression.

“They’re the reason we do this,” McClarty said.

 

It was a highlight moment of many at the ribbon cutting, attended by notables including Assemblymembers Jim Patterson and Dr. Joaquin Arambula, Assemblymember-elect Alexandra Macedo in the 33^rd district, State Center Community College District (SCCCD) Chancellor Carole Goldsmith, President of the SCCCD Board of Trustees Magdalena Gomez, interim Fresno City College President Kim Armstrong, Reedley Chamber CEO Erik Valencia and more.

 

Ground was broken on the McClarty Center for Fine and Performing Arts in 2022, but the vision for a performing arts centers goes back to the 1970s and a facilities masterplan document, said Sandra Caldwell, former Reedley College president who traveled from Wyoming to attend the groundbreaking.

More than a decade ago, it was Caldwell who met with McClarty at Starbucks to discuss the possibility of the center.

 

The 24,000 square-foot facility includes the 500-seat Pete P. Peters Theater, named for the prominent Fresno business leader and philanthropist who died in 2012. The center also features a conference room and gallery space.

It was designed by Fresno-based Darden Architects and built by Seals Construction in Visalia. The program included a tribute to Shane Yocum, the project superintendent at Seals Construction who died in March from lymphoma.

 

The McClarty Center for Fine and Performing Arts is hosting a series of inaugural concerts in December to celebrate the opening. The shows will be free to the public, with donations accepted on behalf of the music program at Reedley College.

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 7 p.m.: Music program showcase featuring Reedley College concert band, choir and instrumental ensembles.

Saturday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m.: Commemorative Piano Concert: Celebrating the Gift of Music, featuring Philip Aaberg, pianist and composer performing on a Steinway concert grand piano gifted by the Belknap family (Belknap Well Drilling)

Sunday, Dec. 8, 3 p.m.: United in Peace and Joy: A Musical Journey, featuring the Norman Zech Reedley College Community Orchestra

Friday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m.: A Winter Fantasy, featuring the Reedley College Community Band and Jazz Band