Friday, April 2, 2010

“Towson University no longer interested in Senator ... - Explore Baltimore County” plus 3 more

“Towson University no longer interested in Senator ... - Explore Baltimore County” plus 3 more

Towson University no longer interested in Senator ... - Explore Baltimore County

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 09:47 AM PDT

Towson University and its radio station, WTMD-FM, have withdrawn their proposal to turn Baltimore's historic Senator Theatre into a studio and performing arts center.

The request to withdraw the proposal came from Towson officials shortly after noon Wednesday, said Kimberly Clark, executive director of the Baltimore Development Corp., the quasi-public agency that will decide who operates the 71-year-old movie house. The city took over operation in July after then-owner Tom Kiefaber could not keep up with mortgage payments and the theater was put up for auction.

In a statement sent via e-mail Wednesday afternoon, James Sheehan, Towson's vice president for administration and finance, said the WTMD proposal fell victim to the uncertain economic climate.

"Due to the continuing economic pressures faced by the State of Maryland and thus Towson, and the uncertain economic climate that we expect to face the remainder of this year, we have determined that it is best not to take on this complex new venture at this time, but rather concentrate on the needs of our students," Sheehan wrote.

Towson's withdrawal leaves only one proposal left under consideration by the BDC. Charles Theatre owner James "Buzz" Cusack has proposed continuing to operate the theater as a first-run movie house while adding restaurants on both sides.

"I'm excited for the prospect of [Cusack's] proposal becoming reality," said City Councilman Bill Henry, whose district includes the Senator and surrounding communities. "On behalf of the other businesses surrounding the Senator Theatre, I'm looking forward to having it open on a daily basis as quickly as possible."

Clark said the BDC review committee would continue evaluating Cusack's proposal, including additional financial information it had requested at its March meeting and has since received. While Cusack's proposal is the only one still under consideration, Clark said that does not guarantee the review committee will recommend it, or that the BDC will accept that - or any - recommendation.

"They could say that is financially responsible, or they could say they want to continue to dig," Clark said. "There are a myriad of possibilities."

Cusack, who purchased the Charles in 1994 and has since enlarged it from one to five screens by expanding into an adjoining building, could not be reached for comment.

The BDC also had requested additional financial information on the WTMD proposal, she said, but never received it.

Clark said the BDC could make its recommendation on the theater's future to Mayor Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake as early as its next board meeting, set for April 22.

The WTMD and Cusack proposals received support from the community. Supporters of Cusack's proposal have noted his ability to keep the Charles operating and relatively debt-free and are optimistic he would have similar success with the Senator.

"It plays to what Buzz does; he's a builder and a contractor by training," said Maryland Film Festival founder Jed Dietz. "What he did at the Charles when he put in four screens at unbelievable cost and then hung in there proves his capacity for the job."

Kiefaber, whose maternal grandfather opened the Senator in 1939, was a strong supporter of the Towson plan. The Senator cannot remain viable, he has said, without the nonprofit component included in WTMD's plan.

At the same time, however, some people living near the Senator have voiced opposition to any plan that could bring more college students into their neighborhood.

On Wednesday, the advocacy group Friends of the Senator Theatre continued its objections to the BDC's evaluation process. It insists that the BDC should seek more input from experts in the field of historic theater preservation and that the process of choosing an operator is fatally flawed without it.

"It's time to heed the rising call for Baltimore city to apply proven national standards established by historic theater redevelopment experts to determine an optimal future for Baltimore's renowned and irreplaceable Senator Theatre," the group's president, Thomas Harris, wrote in an e-mail.

Clark countered, however, that the BDC has taken the group's concerns into account. "It's not like we're out there in a vacuum," she said. "We've had lots of conversations with lots of different folks, and they're ongoing."
Copyright © 2010, The Baltimore Sun

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

UPAF launches 2010 campaign - Biz Times

Posted: 01 Apr 2010 10:01 AM PDT

Published April 1, 2010 - BizTimes Daily

Previous Page Previous | 6 of 8 | Next Next Page

The Milwaukee United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF) announced its 2010 campaign goal of raising $9.3 million by mid-June.
UPAF is a nonprofit organization based in Milwaukee that supports 34 performing arts groups throughout southeastern Wisconsin through its annual community-wide fundraising campaign.
"The performing arts are indispensable to the vitality of our region," said Cristy Garcia-Thomas, president of UPAF. "UPAF's 34 performing arts groups enrich lives, build a sense of community, attract and retain high-level professionals in our region and change the lives of over 400,000 children through education and outreach every year.
"UPAF is grateful for the exceptional leadership of Fiduciary Management's chairman and CEO Ted D. Kellner and community leader Linda T. Mellowes as co-chairs to this year's campaign, and for the dedication and support of the dozens of significant community volunteers on our campaign cabinet."
"I believe the arts strengthen both the economy as well as the fabric of our community," Mellowes said. "The incredible theatre, music and dance offered by UPAF member groups provide each of us with unique experiences that reach us in profound ways."
"The United Performing Arts Fund plays a big part in making our community a unique and wonderful place to live, work and raise our families," Kellner said. "UPAF contributes to the cultural and economic base of the greater Milwaukee region through raising support for the performing arts. UPAF member groups provide a myriad of education and outreach programs ensuring that the arts are accessible to all, and their diverse array of fabulous performances attracts businesses and new talent to our area."
UPAF also announced that the Kelben Foundation has offered a $100,000 Leadership Challenge grant that will match all new and increased individual gifts of $500 or more received from March 1 to May 15. If UPAF is successful in reaching the $100,000 goal, the Kelben Foundation will offer an additional $25,000 Challenge Grant for new and increased gifts received from May 16 to June 22.
UPAF is the largest fundraising organization for the performing arts in the nation, and since 1967 has generated more than $217 million in support for the performing arts.
For more information about the 2010 UPAF Campaign or to make a contribution, visit www.upaf.org.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Just $50K short, Performing Arts Center set to break ... - Springfield News Sun

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 05:49 AM PDT

By Kelly Mori, Staff Writer Updated 11:55 AM Friday, April 2, 2010

SPRINGFIELD — Confident they will raise the final $50,000 of their fundraising goal, Clark State Community College officials have set June 16 as the groundbreaking date for the $6 million expansion of the Performing Arts Center.

The college has pledges for $800,000 of the $850,000 in private donations it needs to match a grant from the Detroit-based Kresge Foundation, said Kris Culp, Clark State Foundation executive director, on Thursday, April 1. The foundation is now awaiting word on the final $50,000 funding request it has submitted.

"We're confident that we'll get the match," Kulp said. "We can't lose this opportunity to get the Kresge funding."

When the match is secured, the $1.7 million will bring the total amount raised to the full $6 million needed for the project. Additional fundraising will help cover any contingency costs on the project, Kulp said.

Slated to open January 2012, the 25,820-square-foot addition will be connected by a canopy to the current Performing Arts Center that houses the 86,000-square-foot Kuss Auditorium. The addition will provide conference rooms, classrooms for Clark State's theater program and a permanent home for Project Jericho, the college's arts outreach program.

The college will unveil the name of the new facility in June.

"A generous donor has stepped forward and we will be announcing the name at the groundbreaking," Kulp said. "We're delighted that the building will carry the name of someone who has been very important to the arts community."

The generosity of the community "never ceases to amaze me. We are very fortunate and very grateful," she said. "This is going to be a terrific addition to Springfield and especially to the downtown.

"We're confident the community will be pleased with the facility and what it brings to our community."

Kulp praised the campaign committee, chaired by Andy Bell, for the successful campaign.

On the Web: pac.clarkstate.edu

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Just announced - Buffalo News

Posted: 02 Apr 2010 06:25 AM PDT


Upcoming concerts

New concerts

SEAN KINGSTON. 8 p. m. April 29. Reilly Center, St. Bonaventure University, 3262 W. State Road, Olean. $10-$12 (box office, Tickets.com).

SNAPCASE. 6:30 p. m. May 8. With Sick Of It All, Walter Schreifels and the Cancer Bats. Town Ballroom, 681 Main St. 852-3900. www.townballroom.com. Tickets are $20 and go on sale at noon today (box office, Tickets.com).

MC CHRIS. 8 p. m. May 11. With Math the Band. Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St. 855-3931. www.themohawkplace.com. Ticket are $13 advance, $15 day of show and go on sale at 10 a. m. today (box office, ticketweb.com).

BO BURNHAM. 7 p. m. May 15. Town Ballroom. $25 (box office, Tickets.com).

PUDDLE OF MUDD. 7 p. m. May 21. Town Ballroom. Tickets are $25 advance, $28 day of show and go on sale at noon today (box office, Tickets.com).

SHEN YUN PERFORMING ARTS. 7:30 p. m. May 27. Shea's Performing Arts Center, 646 Main St. www.sheas.org. $42.50-$129.50 (box office, Ticketmaster).

BUFFALO PLACE ROCKS THE HARBOR. 5 p. m. Lineup includes: O. A. R. with guests Citizen Cope. July 31. Erie Canal Harbor Wharf. Tickets are $10 advance, $20 after July 24 and go on sale at 10 a. m. April 10 (Ticketmaster)


Comments have been disabled.

Due to a high volume of submissions that violate The News' guidelines, commenting is no longer available on this story. If you'd like to share your thoughts on this story, click here to get information on contributing to The News' opinion pages.

Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment


Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.
Posted by Blogger at 10:03 AM

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)