Performing Arts Center

Originally posted at Jessica's Well

They held the first public and stakeholder input meeting for the $45 million dollar Performing Arts Center "Earmark" provided to UTPB by the Texas Legislature.

I'm not too much of a fan of publicly funded Performing Arts Centers, because I think there are better uses for $45 million in tax dollars, like refunding it to taxpayers. However, until the whole tax and spending system is fixed, I say let them spend the money in the Permian Basin instead of the metropolitan black holes of Houston or DFW.

That being said, it was quite refreshing to read Tim Jebsen's quotes in the MRT today. I think Tim has done a fine job with the PRIVATE non-profit Midland Community Theater and he stated very eloquently what many I listen to have been thinking and saying.

He [Jebsen] said a 2,000-to 2,500-seat auditorium is larger than audiences for most performing arts events here.

"My concern is that they are building too big of a hall," said Jebsen, adding his ideal size is 1,500. "Seven hundred and fifty people in a 2500 auditorium looks empty and doesn't pay the bills. I think there needs to be some soul searching there to see what we really need."

Just after this quote Jebsen, in my opinion, nails the problem with government getting involved in building such edifices, or funding programs which overlap with existing community offerings:

"The number one concern is who is going to be paying the bills to run this building three or four years after it opens. Is UTPB going to be putting 1.5 million to staff and pay bills or are they going to be going out into the community and suck that support away from already existing non profit groups not only theater groups but others."

Well Said Mr. Jebsen, I truly hope the design team was listening.