09/24/1979 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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'. educational background, familiarity with other relevant performing arts organizations in the area, as well as development programs for e the Center's operation, and a person of a fair mind and dedicated temperment who will provide aesthetic guidance. He said he is con- cerned as to whether the Council is clear on its goals for operation of the Performing Arts Center. He also questioned the center director operating both the performing arts and convention centers. He wonders if the economics of successfully operating a convention center would dictate the dominant theme of the style and preference of dates. Will the Performing Arts Center reflect more the needs of the community rather than the special interests of the hotel/convention center clien- te 1 e . He also said that> prior to the passage of the bond measure, a commitment was made to emphasize local access to the use of the f ac il it i es . At that time the concern was expressed as to the effect of unionization of the facilities on the cost of the facilities rela- tive to community groups. The large hall will certainly be unionized and it is unclear whether the small theater will be. The increased cost of union labor will seldom be necessary with the abundance of local theatrical talent, he said, and it may become a major deterrent to the high level of community use desired. Mr. Williams mentioned that annual operating costs would show a deficit for the theaters of $116,016 and a deficit for the conference center of $147,720, for q total of $263 736. He also mentioned that presently Room Tax Funds provide approximately $56,000 annually in service contracts from arts organizations and thereby subsidize their development. He wondered if the entire Room Tax fund will be used to cover the annual operating deficit and, if so, would the City cease to purchase other cultural e arts servi ces. Mr. Williams also feels that reliance on national touring companies should be minimized. IIWe should encourage high-quality local artistic events to keep the money here,1I he said. Frank Geltner, 5205 Nectar Way, said Council has not been presented with enough alternatives. It is unclear that this is the best of the research that could have been done on the project. ~enson Snyder, Eugene Arts Foundation Executive Director, but speaking as an individual, commented on the great amount of interest and enthu- siasm in the project. He said he endorsed the ordinance as presented, but did have some concerns. He feels the Commission should provide assistance and counsel in any way possible that is consistent with the Charter to support the Manager in his search for an Executive Director. He has concerns about the concept of a single individual taking on both the general management of the convention center and of the Performing Arts Center. They are not necessarily mutually exclusive, but he has not seen an operation of this nature fully successful where two differ- ent operations were under a single leadership. He also feels it is premature to hire a director until the Council and the Commission have determined the Center's main purpose--will it be a booking house, a , e 9/24/79--4 52.5