UA requests $1 million from Fayetteville A&P for 700-seat performing arts center
The old Field House building on the UA campus could be converted into a 700-seat performing arts center.
Todd Gill, Fayetteville Flyer
University of Arkansas officials are expected to ask the Fayetteville Advertising and Promotions Commission for a $1 million pledge toward construction costs of a performing arts center located on the university campus.
In a letter sent to commissioners dated May 8 (see full letter below), UA chancellor G. David Gearhart requested the funds, to be payable over a three-year period, which would go toward offsetting the estimated $17 million costs of converting the old Field House building into a 700-seat, state-of-the-art venue for musical and theatrical performances.
“As a Fayetteville native, I have long been aware and proud of the mutually beneficial relationship that exists between the city and the University of Arkansas,” wrote Gearhart. “That is why, as chancellor, I am especially pleased to have the opportunity to seek your support for a cultural project that will continue the tradition of shared benefits.”
In his letter, Gearhart outlined several ways he believed the new facility would benefit both the university and the city of Fayetteville. He said the university anticipates hosting 175 to 200 events annually, at least 40 of which would feature large ensembles, adding the families, friends and general audiences of over 600 students to Fayetteville’s visitor base.
In addition, he said the performance hall would allow Fayetteville an additional venue for hosting events not directly affiliated with the university.
The project was first unveiled in February during a Walton Arts Center expansion update meeting.
Walton Arts Center CEO Peter Lane said a recent study indicated that the University of Arkansas, which operates in a partnership with the arts center, was in need of its own additional facility instead of continuing to use the arts center’s Dickson Street venue for concerts and other university performances.
Consultants determined that the campus Field House building could be converted into a 600- to 700-seat theater for $15 to 20 million.
At the time, Gearhart said the university didn’t have the funds for the renovation project, but that he had some ideas in mind.
The Field House is situated between the Arkansas Union and Silas Hunt Hall, and was built in the 1930s. The building was originally a basketball gymnasium, and has since been a concert venue, a museum, a swing space for the architecture program, and home of the Arkansas Research Center for Space and Planetary Sciences.
Commissioners are expected to discuss the request at the next regular meeting at 2 p.m. Monday, July 9 inside the Fayetteville Town Center.
Chancellor Gearhart’s letter to the A&P Commission
Dear Commissioners:
Your administration of the proceeds from Fayetteville’s hotel, motel, and restaurant tax has played a vital role in making our city one of the most inviting and vibrant in Arkansas and the region. Your investments in the promotion of Fayetteville, in support of our city’s cultural and recreational assets, and in assisting a host of activities and events have contributed significantly to Fayetteville’s present success and bright future. Thank you for your service.
As a Fayetteville native, I have long been aware and proud of the mutually beneficial relationship that exists between the city and the University of Arkansas. That is why, as chancellor, I am especially pleased to have the opportunity to seek your support for a cultural project that will continue the tradition of shared benefits.
The university is currently planning to renovate its historic Field House into a stunning 700-seat, state-of-the-art venue for musical and theatrical performances. The estimated cost of this project is $17 million. I am asking you to consider a commitment of $1 million, payable over three years, to aid in the project’s timely progress. The funds will go toward offsetting construction costs. The Field House interior will be converted to ensure compliance with today’s high acoustic, lighting, comfort, and safety standards, while the building’s stately exterior will be preserved.
How would this project benefit the University of Arkansas?
The university presently lacks an adequate venue for performances showcasing the skills of incredibly talented students and faculty members. On-campus musical performances currently are hosted in the 238-seat Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall, and theatrical productions are staged in the 250-seat University Theater. Both facilities are located in the Fine Arts Center which was built more than six decades ago. This situation hinders student and faculty recruitment, particularly for our music programs, since many colleges and even high schools have more impressive performance venues. The facilities, by virtue of their size and quality, also hamper the university’s ability to increase public attendance and support for its cultural and entertainment programming.While our department of music has benefitted from the use of the Walton Arts Center, that facility is made available for use only a few days during the year due to its very heavy schedule. It simply is not possible to host all of the university programs in the Walton Arts Center.
To alleviate these problems and to further the university’s stature as a nationally recognized institution of higher education, our intent is to build and operate a first-class performance venue to host some of the highest-quality performing and visual arts productions in the state and region. When the new facility is completed, a professional business manager will operate the space, and an improved performance ticketing system will be put into place. Parking will not be an issue since two large-capacity parking garages already are located within easy walking distance of the Field House.
How would this project benefit Fayetteville?
A May 2010 study commissioned by the Northwest Arkansas Council found that the area’s arts, entertainment, and recreation sector could “play a major role in establishing the region’s identity and drawing new visitors.” The wave of national publicity and new visitors created by the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art has provided a phenomenal boost in that direction. There may never be a more opportune time for Fayetteville to build on the great strides it has taken in elevating its arts and entertainment community. Now is the ideal time to expand and further cement the city’s niche in Northwest Arkansas’s cultural tourism market.With the addition of the proposed performance venue, the university is poised to join the Walton Arts Center, the Arkansas Music Pavilion, TheatreSquared, SoNA, and other Fayetteville attractions as a key component of our city’s cultural offerings. University musical groups to perform in the new facility will include the University Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Schola Cantorum, Concert Choir, and Master Chorale. Theatrical performances will be staged by the Music Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre, and Boars Head Summer Theatre. The facility will also host the popular Summer Chamber Music Festival as well as provide space for public lectures such as the recent appearance by former President Bill Clinton who was the inaugural speaker of the Dale and Betty Bumpers Distinguished Lecture Program.
The university anticipates hosting 175 to 200 events annually in the performance hall, increasing the number of visiting acts and concerts by approximately 75 to 100 events during the center’s inaugural years. At least 40 of these performances will feature large ensembles, collectively involving more than 600 students, bringing the students’ parents, siblings, grandparents, and friends as well as general audience members to Fayetteville. The new facility will also allow the university to host clinics and outreach initiatives such as wind, orchestral, and choral conducting symposia bringing as many as 400 professional educators and post-secondary music students from across the state and region to each event.
In addition, the performance hall will afford Fayetteville an additional high-quality venue for hosting events not directly affiliated with the university’s music and theater programs. The university will collaborate with the Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville High School, the Fayetteville business community, and university-related entities such as the Headliners Concert Committee, Distinguished Lectures Committee, Greek Life, and registered on- campus organizations in commissioning performance hall events.
Two important outreach roles of the University of Arkansas are to enrich the cultural life and contribute to the economic development of our city, region, and state. A larger, more technologically advanced performance venue will enable the university to increase its benefit to Fayetteville’s economy by establishing another attraction to draw visitors to our city and by giving our guests additional reasons to extend their stays. This, in turn, will generate significant additional revenues for our city through sales taxes, including the hotel, motel, and restaurant tax.
I hope you will come to the conclusion, as I have, that the commission’s investment to assist in building the university’s new performance hall represents a magnificent opportunity to secure shared benefits for the residents of Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas community for years to come. I look forward to further discussion regarding this topic.
Sincerely,
G. David Gearhart Chancellor
A&P Funds
Legislation created the Advertising and Promotion Commission in 1977 with the passage of the Hotel, Motel, Restaurant (HMR) tax in Fayetteville. The 2 percent tax is split equally between the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and the A&P Commission. The parks money is used for parks maintenance, operations and for capital improvements. The self-reported numbers do not include retail or liquor sales.
» See recent collection totals
By state legislation, all HMR funds shall be used:
1. for advertising and promoting the city and its environs
2. for the construction, reconstruction, equipment, improvement, maintenance, repair, and operation of a convention center
3. for the operation of tourist promotion facilities in the city
4. for personnel and agencies necessary to conduct the business of the A & P commission
HMR funds can also be used for:
1. for funding the arts
2. for operation of tourist-oriented facilities
3. for construction, reconstruction, repair, maintenance, improvement, equipping and operation of public recreation facilities and for the payment of bonds.
Taxes shall not be used for:
1. general capital improvements within the city
2. costs associated with general operation of the city
3. general subsidy of any civic group or chamber of commerce
Source: Arkansas Code / § 26-75-606 – Use of funds collected
The Chancellor has a bad idea. If the univeristy is going to host 175 to 200 events in this theatre annually that is 5 nights a week for 50 weeks. So, when will the citizens of Fayetteville get to use the place. Let’s see the university gets the money and the citizens get nothing. That is fair, of course.
Yet, the Chancellor will probably get the money. He is a part of the Club. The Club always takes care of its own.
Guess this means that folks that want to develop a Arts District along Center Street and the Square can expect that A&P will have nothing to help them. They are not members of the Club. Funny, the Arts District would benefit everyone in Fayetteville, including the Chancellor’s students, bring more arts and culture to Fayetteville, and attract people from all over Northwest Arkansas, but it is not for the university. Oh, well, we certainly need more WPS.
I didn’t read that as saying that all 175 to 200 events that the university hosts would be university-affiliated events. If a non-university-affiliated event were held there, it would still be hosted by the university by virtue of taking place on university property. If my understanding of the wording is right, would that change your opinion?
I like the idea of having an arts district on the Square and along Center, but where are we going to find room for a 700-seat auditorium and the parking space that would be required? The university already has a building and ample parking space.
It seems like a good proposition to me, but I’m open to changing my mind.
After reading the comments, I have to agree that this isn’t something for which Fayetteville A&P money should be used. Renovating a building on campus is a far cry from advertising/promotion of the City of Fayetteville.
Ohhhh!!!!! This is why Lioneld was in such a hurry to get off the A and P commission. Voting on this would have enraged half the voters regardless of how he would have voted on it. This is standard operating procedure for “no fingerprints” Jordan.
This is bull! Just say NO, A&P! Seriously! They don’t need $1 million dollars of our tax money. They can get it through a private donor! Give that money to theater squared, to build their own building, or buy the OPO, or to Good Folk to build a concert venue. This “relationship” that A&P has, throwing buckets of money at the U of A, and the WAC (or AMP) for new projects is NOT what A&P is for.
A new 700 seat theater on campus is not going to bring more people to Fayetteville. it will not advertise or promote us. It will give the students who go there another venue that only they can utilize.
Why are we only hearing about this now? Two months after the letter was submitted?
Why can’t they use Nadine Baum?
This is ridiculous. And we’re one person short on the A&P commission to vote in this? I hope they decide to think it over a while, not rush on a decision like this, and then vote NO.
I disagree with the use of A&P funding for this project. It is completely unclear how the renovation of this space (which is on the UofA campus) will benefit Fayetteville residents, and even more unclear how it will attract non-Fayetteville residents to the area (which i thought was the point of using A & P funding). I am employed by the university and attend events on campus regularly. It is my opinion that the University would be wise to use their funds to renovate the spaces that they already use (the University Theatre, the Union Theatre, The Stella Smith Concert Hall, etc). I’m very curious how they justify spending $17 million on this space with the intent of using it for music programs (which have been well served by utilizing the WAC facility), for Boars Head Theatre in the summer (which has had a perfect space at the Nadine Baum Studios for the last two summers), and for the “Shakespeare Theatre” (which does not exist – believe me – I’ve asked everyone who would know and no one knows what he is referring to). That being said, if the Chancellor feels that this is a great use of $17 million, then he should by all means direct his top notch development team to get to work whipping up the funds. They’ve done a Billion Dollar campaign before, so this should be a cake walk. But how in the world could the A & P justify using their money for this project? This would be an outrageous violation of what they claim the money they collect should be used for. This would generate NO additional revenue for restaurants or hotels. This would not bring people to Fayetteville. This would not raise our profile as a destination. This does not promote a thriving downtown entertainment district. This would just be another example of giving the money to a big player who is well equipped to get the money on their own. And I can’t help but echo that the timing is highly sketchy. This coming out on a holiday with only a few days before a vote makes it look like a backdoor deal that already has a foregone conclusion. I truly would have thought that the A & P would be looking to clean up their reputation these days, but it looks as though they continue to have the confidence of an organization that doesn’t care to follow its own rules. We can do better than this, Fayetteville.
This is not an appropriate use of A & P funding. Chancellor Gearhart knows this and so do the commissioners. Let’s hope they do the right thing in denying this egregious misuse of these funds.
Ohhh, f-no. Good gawd, let’s just be the U of A and WAC’s little bank forever. Fayetteville tax payers enough is enough
Well, this is it—the opportunity for the A & P to redeem the mission of the commission, and do the right thing by NOT voting on this. We are feeling confused here about the purpose of this tax, and what is or isn’t funded by it. Last time I checked, the funds from the A& P are meant strictly for advertising and promotion, absolutely not for construction. As far as I can tell, this proposal just doesn’t qualify. I am very interested to see how they vote, and how they justify their decision one way or another. And yes, where are the venues for local groups? Sound like this university project is dressing itself up like a little baby WAC, only now on top of the hill, removed from rest of the city, benefiting mainly the university. And how does the center benefit the Fayetteville performing arts scene? We need a space that is not dependent on the university or the WAC. We need it for sustainability’s sake. I mean, what if one day of these entities just gets up and leaves us for a flashier, shinier, richer city? Wait, isn’t that about to happen? Isn’t that the reason we are even having this conversation?
That was my exact response when they approved the AMP construction funding for the WAC. And pushed it through an emergency meeting. Build Fayetteville an Arts Center! Find a home for All these projects that need space. Build on the Culture that is already here! There are SO many groups looking for a space, who take piddly amounts of funding to scratch them through. I hope they redeem themselves on this on. Just say “NO!” A&P!
If the A&P wants to break its own rules and start using money for space rather than marketing – then BY ALL MEANS build us a real arts center downtown that is independent of WAC so our local professional arts organizations can thrive. Maybe this issue (which should definitely be voted down) can have the unintentional good effect of starting an important conversation about the real need for performance venues downtown, and what role the A&P (or the city in general) can and should play in that.
★ Staff note: To clarify, state law does allow the commission to use funds for “the construction, reconstruction, repair, maintenance, improvement, equipping, and operation of public recreation facilities in the city.” See more above.
How does a University of Arkansas campus building qualify as a “public recreation facility”?
I’m not trying to be argumentative, and I am happy that the A & P might have some latitude to spend funds to create space for the arts downtown (such as a public arts center or the Fayetteville underground), but would a building on a university campus be considered a “public recreation facility”. It seems like a bit of a stretch.
For the record, HMR taxes helped pay for the Continuing Ed Center (fully) and the Fayetteville Town Center (partially). It’s important to note that after the bonds for the CEC were paid off, the ownership of the CEC was transferred to the University of Arkansas. And now, under UA’s ownership, the building is no longer a visitor destination or under local control. I bring this up because if UA decided to repurpose the performing arts center in the future, the city/A&P wouldn’t have a say in the matter.
And finally, a prediction: The first order of business for Fayetteville’s newly created Town & Gown Advisory Committee will be to discuss, and ultimately support, A&P funding for UA’s proposed performing arts center.
Take note people, the ducks are almost in a row.
Let’s build our own venue for those events! It will create jobs locally. There are enough organizations to rent and pay for the venue to run. Let’s build a venue on the old Mountain Inn lot, or revamp the Tyson Factory on Huntsville. Let the UofA do this on their own.
So the city gives them a million dollars for the opportunity to rent it when it’s not being used? All the way over the hill? I just don’t get it. Why is that a good deal for the City of Fayetteville?
“- Subject to all other University policies, the University prohibits the use of facilities and outdoor
space for private, for-profit business activities. The University regulates any use of its buildings
and grounds for solicitation, including fund-raising activities. University facilities shall not be
used by non-University groups nor organizations for private purposes, for the conduct of private
business and/or to raise money for projects not connected with a University activity except as
otherwise permitted by University policy.”
Ever look at the U of A’s current facility use policy?
Check it here*
http://vcfa.uark.edu/Documents/7080.pdf
So who’s ensemble wants to call up to the U of A see how much they are gonna charge for public use of their space?
In the course of business, I’ve had to look up renting space at the Union. For non-profit, the rate per small room was about $150 an hour. For for-profit entities, it was $450 an hour. I haven’t looked in a while because both prices were just outrageous.
I love how much the university brings to our community. I’ve been to many guest lectures and events that didn’t cost me a dime but that brought me cultural and intellectual riches. However, if the university can pay $17MM toward repurposing the building, they can pay $18MM.
Get a wealthy donor or business to slap their name on the building and pony up the extra million. There’s plenty of those folks to go around.
Thanks for digging that up, Slim. Very enlightening.
Seems to me it would be out of line to support this project with Fayetteville A&P funds even though I hope the facility does get renovated for an entertainment venue. If I Understand the following information the funds can be used for a recreation facility, an entertainment venue is not seemingly an appropriate use. Here is what the A&P is created for according to documents found on the City of Fayetteville website:
Advertising and Promotion Commission
The Advertising and Promotion Commission was created on March 1, 1977 with Ordinance No. 2310 pursuant to the provisions of A.C.A 26-75-605, by the City Board to administer the Advertising and Promotion Fund. The A&P Fund can be used for the advertisement and promotion of the City and its environs, and/or construction, reconstruction, repair, maintenance, improvement, equipping, and operation of public recreation facilities. The Commission may contract with agencies and incur such administrative costs that it deems necessary to conduct its business.
One percent of all revenues generated by the local Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant (HMR) Tax shall be credited to the A&P Fund and made available for purposes determined by the A&P Commission. The funds shall be used for the promotion and encouragement of tourism and conventions, while not allowing such special revenues to be utilized for expenditures that are normally paid from general revenues of the City.
I wondered what the purpose of the “Town and Gown Advisory Committee” would be. It appears its creation is simply a step towards taking money from the A&P to give to the U of A for this project.
Nice move.
There’s no way this is legit. While I am excited at the prospect of this venue being on campus, these funds should not be take out of the A&P revenues. Let the U of A build its own venue.
You’ll need another parking deck.
makes me miss the good old days when I used to see free concerts at the greek theater all the time. Is it ever even used anymore for anything except a pep rally? Seems like an ideal spot for a venue. The UofA is also building an enclosed, hillside ampitheater right next to the greek theater for the science & engineering department. Seems that it could serve a dual purpose as a venue, especially since parking would be less of a problem for the public there than at the Field House. There are plenty of alternatives for the UofA to have venue space, while the A&P should look into investing money in something else.
Actually there’s more parking room at the Field House because of the pit parking lot and the the Union parking garage. There’s not parking any closer to the Greek Theater other than the Harmon Parking Garage. And if you’re not familiar with campus parking is even more difficult, especially with all the construction going on.
The enclosed amphitheater is not exclusively for use by “the science and engineering department” (in part because such a department does not exist at the UA) but will be used at least in part for large lecture classes that are currently being held in the Union ballroom and Barnhill because of lack of classroom space on campus.
Speculating, but that’s what this column is for:
I don’t think its about t construction money. Under current state usage laws as quoted above its more difficult for campus facilities to host for-profit ventures such as travelling shows, bands, etc. I’m pretty sure Gearhardt will have to approach the state legislature to reach an agreement that would open this new facility up for those ventures (or at least make it less expensive for them). Having a substantial token cash commitment from the City of Fayetteville showing that the city is truly interested in using the space would probably lend more creedence to the argument. Again, no facts here, just thinking.
Arch said: “Having a substantial token cash commitment from the City of Fayetteville showing that the city is truly interested [...]”
The A&P represents the hospitality industry, NOT the City of Fayetteville. There’s a BIG difference. Fayetteville is a community, the hospitality industry is a corporate special interest group.
I did not know that. Are you sure? The commission is listed on the accessfayetteville website as funded through tax revenue, and if it wasn’t city run then we wouldn’t have had to go through all the FOIA mess a few months ago.
★ Staff note: The A&P is often referred to as a “quasi-city” commission. It’s funded by a city tax and its members must be approved by the City Council, but state laws govern the makeup of the commission and set the guidelines for any expenditures of the funds collected. It is, however, still subject to FOIA.
It’s kindof a grey area. It is a City commission, but it’s a special one. There are only 5 or 6 A&P comm. in the state. It’s an extra 2% tax through hotels, motels, and restaurants (HMar)) collected specifically to fund the town center (or convention center in little rock, or the Aud in eureka). One percent of ours also goes to Parks nd Rec. whatever’s left over after funding those programs is for public dispersment. But that tax is only collected for that commission. It is specifically allotted to advertise and promote the city.
The A&P Commission is largely unaccountable to the public at large. Regarding Marilyn Heifner’s recent FOIA violation, it’s no coincidence that the only two A&P members who voted to fire Ms. Heifner were Mayor Jordan and Alderman Tennant – both ELECTED officials accountable to the electorate.
A&P is not a public entity and is not part of the government. It is a private entity representing business. Many people don’t recognize this. It is misleading when the news media calls it “quasi-city”.
No. But they do handle sales tax collected from the public. To be distributed back out into the public community. And will respond to a public outcry on an issue. Email them and tell them whether or not you support this funding proposal!
Will this be competition for the 600 set venue promised by the WAC or will this become that promise.
The WAC is suggesting it, in the letter above from the Chancellor, which, to me, says, “we don’t really need to build the 600 seat venue that we promised, but you know who should? The Univeristy! What a great idea! “.
The issues go back to the original WAC partnership between the UA/Fay/WAC. The WAC largely ignored the university’s contribution to the original facility, and never provided the UA with the access a “partner” should have been provided. The UA truly was, and is, in desperate need of an on-campus 600-700 seat facility. The existing concert hall seats 350, and was designed in the 50′s for a small student population and even smaller town. There is really no room for the present concert hall to grow or expand.
So, instead of being subject to the WAC’s administration, the UA decided to build a new facility itself on campus and allow the WAC to “use” the new facility just as the WAC has allowed the UA to “use” the Dickson St location. I imagine the UA would be a bit more accommodating, however.
If the goal is to use the new auditorium 200 nights a year, then that’s a true benefit to Fayetteville. As a financial contributor, the city can easily advertise and promote “nightly” performing arts. In my mind, that’s certainly a draw to the city and worthy of what is really a small contribution. It’s certainly an entertainment feature unavailable anywhere else in NWA, and won’t be available even with the new 2000 seat branch of the WAC in Bentonville (where there isn’t a site or money to build, yet).
Hmmm. Maybe the WAC should kick in a million, since now they won’t have to build their own space. Didn’t the University kick In 5 million or something when they built the WAC so that the University would have access to those venues? Seems like these big boys need to start sharing their toys and the A&P can stay out of it this time.
on a semi-related note, why is the greek theatre not utilized more? it is a beautiful venue that would be perfect for plays, concerts (favorite show was when kunek (now other lives) opened for spoon in the rain), and other events like a day long gallery showing.
i would love it if fayetteville started a shakespeare festival at the greek theatre. i think this town would love it too.
send them to Osage Creek
I lolled, one misbegotten effort lends itself well to another…
I saw Social Distortion in the ballroom once. It was a very very long time ago.
Isn’t this just putting off the inevitable for the UofA? Aren’t they actually in need of a theater/PAC space specifically designed for such a purpose? I remember being in university choirs 10 years ago and having access to the WAC for so much as a dress rehearsal was next to impossible.
It’s not a matter of whether or not the UofA should have it/has a need for it. It’s about using sales tax money that is collected for the sole purpose of Advertising and Promoting Fayetteville. This will not advertise nor promote our town. These are monies that are used for events, groups who come to Fayetteville who spend more tax dollars and the Arts. A private theater on campus that is partially (maybe) made available for public use is none of those things.
2 cents, 3 questions:
1) Is this an appropriate expenditure by the A&P Commission?
(This is up for interpretation.)
2) Will this be good for the City of Fayetteville?
(Answer is speculative.)
3) This was made public when? Three days ago?
(Table the thing until we can all think and learn a little more.)
Complaining on here is one thing, but the best way to make an impact is to contact the commissioners directly:
mgmt@caferueorleans.com
hannah@dicksonstreetinn.com
bdavis@easoninsurance.com
WTLyle@yahoo.com, ward3_pos1@ci.fayetteville.ar.us
ward3_pos2@ci.fayetteville.ar.us
Tell them to vote against this ridiculous proposition. We are the taxpayers. We must be heard.
I can’t help but notice the few flyer regulars that have decided to be absent on this thread. Franks, Dooley, Observer, etc. Vedddy Interesting…………
It’s not really interesting at all: I’ve been out of town since before this article was posted.
Given the law against using funds for “general capital improvements within the city” and the rather thin argument that “funding for the arts” includes kicking in for the renovation of a building that belongs to an entity with legal standing almost equal to the city’s, I would agree with most here that the University should not get A & P funding for this purpose. Further, it can’t really be claimed that a performance venue of the proposed size is an event per se; the effect of the presence of the venue will be so diluted over time that the facility will have relatively little effect on the profile of the city– particularly as advertising and promotion for performances will tout the aegis of the University., not of Fayetteville.
The Town and Gown Committee should set out to quantify, at least in a few respects, the benefits the city and the University gain from each other. This information could be used to establish some guidelines for equitable access to University facilities for non-University groups of various sorts, and for fair costs thereof, as well as for equitable access to city facilities for University groups of various sorts, and fair costs thereof. (I don’t know the particulars, but large musical ensembles from the University regularly perform at the WAC, which indicates that some degree of cooperation is already in place.)
That said, the Field House, is in a good location for a medium-sized performance space, as it is near parking and close enough to the Fine Arts Center and the Greek Theater that the various performance spaces could easily be used together for festivals, clinics and that sort of thing.
Well, I am well on the record of being wary about everything the A&P does. This is no different. I think that the UA should handle their own business. I’m not sure how this proposal meets the criteria of attracting visitors to the city, especially if they spend money at the UA. How does that benefit?
A significant story worth keeping an eye on is that Jordan begged off of his A&P role and got a lame duck, Ferrell, to step in RIGHT BEFORE this issue became something on the agenda. It’s almost as if he wanted no part of it, and knew that whatever Ferrell decided, with only months left in his council term, any political fallout would be avoided.
And given Ferrell’s childish outburst at the last council meeting, not to mention his efforts on one side of a bullying business matter, I’m not confident at all that this is going to work out. Since the A&P has shown a historic bent to conduct business as usual and maintain its brother-in-law approach, this is assuredly a fait accompli made certain by Ferrell’s new role. The non-elected members of A&P (at least, those who bother to show up) will vote to give this money to the UA, Ferrell will as well.
If I were a bettor, that’s how I would envision that playing out.
The only thing that will wake these guys up, or even alert them to that fact that anyone else in Fayetteville gives a damn about where A&P funds go, is an email to your commissioners. Please. Send them a message telling them that you’re paying attention. I optimistically hope they will listen.
Oh, look: another excuse to waste YOUR money. Where are the Teabaggers, now?
Everybody talks about “our taxes” as if every dime of it comes out of our pocket. I’d like to see where the money actually comes from. If it’s mostly from hotel & motel stays, probably very few commentators pay it.
As a resident of Fayetteville, I can’t remember when I stayed in one of our hotels.
I do eat out often however. Mostly because I’m single & live alone. In such a pro family environment, I wonder if most residents meals aren’t eaten at home though?
Or are you mad cos your bar bill is 2% higher.
Or are you all saying “our taxes” because they’re collected in our town?
Or are you all just bitchin’ again about whatever anybody tries to do?
WAC’s bad. The current mayor sucks. The former mayor’s an idiot.
UA shouldn’t expect anything from Fayetteville?
Fayetteville makes a pretty good living off of all those out of town students.
That new facility surely won’t bring the 70 or 80 thousand fans a football game does but it will make a nice addition.
Y’all ought to count your blessings
I just read where the Chancellor Gearhart said he was asking Fayetteville for money for his performance theatre because it would benefit Northwest Arkansas. If that is true why doesn’t, he ask Bentonville, Rogers, and Springdale for money as well?
How many performance quality auditoriums does this town need????
How many do we have?
Don’t forget the one at the new high school. The school admin has said they will share it with the community. It will have 850 seats.
Most of them are booked pretty solidly with rehearsals, performances, and seminars. On campus, the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall and the University Theater stay full, and neither of them seats six to seven hundred people. There is no high-quality venue (in terms of acoustics, sight lines, technical accommodations, audience comfort) in Fayetteville of this proposed size, though the performing arts center at.the new high school will seat about 850.
Note that this hall will be about the same size as the hall proposed by the Walton Arts Center, so the need for a venue of this size in Fayetteville has been recognized. (I wonder if this will end up being the WAC’s expansion in Fayetteville.)