Walton Arts Center asks city council for funds
Walton Arts Center officials asked the Fayetteville City Council for funds to assist in expanding its programming as members of the council toured the arts center Monday afternoon.
Officials told the council that the performing arts center has reached a wall on ticket prices and that earning more revenue will require an increase in programming through an expansion of its facilities.
“We’re looking for something we can plan for to allow us to continue the programs and services that we currently do, as well as to increase them, and to make them more accessible to the community,” said Terri Trotter, WAC chief operations officer.
The Walton Arts Center currently receives about 1.5% of the their $9 million annual operating budget from local government such as A&P Commission and Arts Council funds. Trotter said an informal inquiry to peers in other communities comparable to Fayetteville found that arts centers of similar size and scope receive in the neighborhood of 7-10% of their funding from local government.
Trotter says she doesn’t have a dollar amount or specific revenue streams in mind, but is hopeful to start a dialogue with the city about increasing financial support for the organization.
“We realize the city is obviously not experiencing the best economic time right now,” said Trotter. “What we’re asking is, what can be done? Are there new potential revenue streams we can explore?”
One potential revenue stream that has been discussed is paid parking in the city-owned Walton Arts Center parking lot. City officials have been discussing a parking resolution to address downtown parking concerns, and last month the council unanimously passed three resolutions expressing council support for a new parking plan in the downtown area.
Mayor Lioneld Jordan said he hopes that the city can come up with a parking plan that can provide a revenue stream for the Walton Arts Center, but believes there are a lot of other stakeholders that have to be considered.
“We have to look at this holistically,” Jordan said. “We’ve got to come up with a plan to address the business owners down there, the employees of those businesses, the University, as well as the Walton Arts Center.”
Jordan said solving the parking issue as well as addressing the Walton Arts Center’s expansion concerns would not happen overnight, but remained confident that a solution could be reached.
“I know we need to develop a good support stream for the Walton Arts Center because I want them to stay in town. They are one of the crown jewels of this city,” Jordan said. “I think in the year to come we can come up with a plan that works.”
Comments
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By Offcamber on February 3rd, 2010
Facilities expansion where? Up? South? With what money?
WAC doesn’t have an exact amount or spending plan in mind, just hands outstretched to see what it can get. This just sounds like a big public fleece over threats to flee to Benton County, and the Mayor is too eager to appease. The WAC administration acts a bully on downtown because the community lets these people get away with it.
Don’t feed the animals.
By J T Shrigley on February 3rd, 2010
A much larger share of the HMR kitty should be allocated to WAC.
WIth a serious real-time decline in funds available to even the most worthy orgs from corporations, foundations and individuals, A&P and the City must do a hard-nosed analysis of what really generates HMR revenue and ensure the funds are mostly used to ensure the long-term sustainability of a cultural milieu—of which WAC is a critical component— that makes Fayetteville a more attractive place to live, visit and spend discretionary dollars.
By Daniel Maner on February 4th, 2010
It is imperative the City of Fayetteville, University of Arkansas, business leaders and community at large do what needs to be done to keep the main facilty of the WAC in Fayetteville. The HMR tax idea is the easiest, quickest way to do that. It wasn’t long ago that Fayetteville passed a temporary sales tax increase for a new library- keeping the premier performing arts center of NWA in Fayetteville is at least as important as that library. Whether an individual attends events there or not- it’s importance as a cultural asset and economic factor for Fayetteville is unquestionable.
Increased parking is a major factor in that process and in keeping business thriving in the entertainment district. The revenue stream produced by paid parking needs to be directed towards a parking deck- it is the obvious way to pay for a deck.
If the WAC as an organization decides to build it’s main facility (whatever it is named) away from Fayetteville it needs to go with it. Permitting the WAC to dictate what events come to Fayetteville after it has basically abandoned the city would be a mistake.
By Zaff on February 4th, 2010
Keep WAC happy at all cost. Lose the WAC and Dickson will go downhill fast. This appears to be a necessary evil.
By anon on February 4th, 2010
who’s gonna pony up the $200 million for the new building?
and the land? and the infrastructure to support it?
dream on people
By Mark_Landry on February 4th, 2010
We paid for the library…it has a parking garage that is off limits after hours, for some reason. Why not use city A&P funds to pay for a shuttle from the WAC to the library garage?
Cheaper than building a new structure.
And again, the Underwood building is open for parking, but stays empty. That thing has tons of parking, folks just don’t want to pay.
By anon on February 4th, 2010
where are 20 semi’s going to park to unload huge broadway shows?
and where is the audience who wants to go to those shows and pay those prices?
get a clue
By five by five on February 4th, 2010
@Mark: i’ve been saying the same thing for months — streetlights on West & some type of shuttle (private sector, perhaps?) would address parking; then the PTB could carefully weigh potential solutions for future growth.
By Daniel Maner on February 4th, 2010
It’s no secret who the primary donor would be- just look at the name on the building. The City, U & A and entire community need to pitch in to make it happen. The $200 million price tag is an upper range figure. By using the existing facilites in addition to new construction the cost could be much lower.
When shows such as Rent, Miss Saigon and Fiddler on the Roof come to town for multi-night runs they sellout with no problem. That is one of the reasons for building a larger theater- so that more tickets can be sold. The stage itself will be somewhat larger but not so much that it takes many more semi-trucks to haul the sets.
Trying to use shuttles to solve the parking problems in the entertainment district is a recipe for failure. Convenience of parking is essential for it to work. Very few business and WAC patrons will ride buses to and from the venues. They will just circle until they find a space like they do now. Readily avaiable and secure parking would also solve most of the traffic problems caused by that circling and unsafe parking.
By David L. on February 7th, 2010
Arts organizations had better careful where they get their funds. Whether it be public or corporate the influence over content is great.
Those needing an illustration need only look at Kimball in Ft. Worth vs a giant Pegasus in the lobby in Dallas.
By Daniel Maner on February 7th, 2010
Your concern about influence over content is valid but I would point out that the WAC has had shows such as Avenue Q and The Graduate whose content ran contrary to the conservative corporate sensibilty. Hopefully that is a PC way to put it.
I recently attended a show at the Wyly Theater at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas. It took a sharp dig at the IPhone service difficulties that many people have had so I think it is unusual for content to be swayed much by corporate supporters.
By burgerboy on February 8th, 2010
FWIW, the Pegasus is a bit of a symbol of the city at this point for Dallas because of its history on the Magnolia building downtown. Most don’t view it as a corporate symbol anymore.
A number of city works, publications, etc bear the Pegasus name and emblem, which have nothing to do with the oil company that started it.