SPRINGFIELD — The Kuss Auditorium stage has played host to symphony concerts, Broadway musicals, country singers and even ice shows.

The occasional luncheon has proved to be more problematic.

“If food gets down in the stage flooring,” said Stuart Secttor, executive director of the Clark State Performing Arts Center, “that odor’s there.”

But if Clark State Community College can raise the money still needed to build a $5.8 million Creative Arts and Conference Center nearby, Kuss Auditorium can go back to being just a performance hall.

The proposed center, officially unveiled at a news conference Tuesday, Sept. 29, will serve as an expansion of sorts to the 86,000-square-foot Performing Arts Center.

While connected to the PAC only by a canopy, the new center would give Clark State an extra 25,820 square feet of space to be used for a variety of purposes — including conferences and luncheons.

“It has great potential,” Secttor said. “We’re looking to provide a service to the community and our region.”

Slated to open in January 2012, the center will be built in the current Turner Studio Theatre parking lot. “But we still have ample parking,” Secttor said.

To make it a reality, though, the college has to answer an $850,000 challenge grant from the Detroit-based Kresge Foundation.

Clark State is only the sixth community college nationwide to receive such a grant since the foundation was created in 1924 by the founder of Kmart.

The college, which so far has raised about $200,000, must raise its entire $850,000 match by June 30.

“It’s all or nothing,” said Andy Bell, chairman of the fundraising campaign. “The opportunity it provides our community is too strong not to succeed.”

The remainder of the funding includes $2 million of state money as well as other contributions and foundation support.

In addition to a main hall capable of seating 500, the center also would include classrooms for Clark State’s theater program and a permanent home for Project Jericho, the college’s nationally recognized arts outreach program.