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Foundation campaigns to keep the lights on
By Marilyn Miller
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Friday, Nov 21, 2008
MEDINA: The global economic crisis may be dimming the lights on Broadway.
Over the next six months, the Medina County Performing Arts Foundation will take a crucial look at its financial situation to determine whether it will have to shut down.
The nonprofit agency owns and operates the Drake Center for the Arts, at 222 S. Broadway, and manages Broadway Street Hall, at 144 N. Broadway in the Medina County Administration Building.
In a news conference Thursday at the Drake Center, the agency's board announced that a campaign was being launched to to save the arts presence in Medina.
''Everyone is suffering in this global financial crisis, but when we say we are behind the eight ball, we mean the ball is boulder size,'' said Phyllis Griffith, the executive director and sole employee of the nonprofit agency, whose position is part time.
The campaign, called Keep the Lights on Arts on Broadway, will kick off after Thanksgiving. The goal is to raise $85,000 by May. Of that money, $60,000 would be used for capital projects and $25,000 for utility bills.
Griffith said it costs $10,000 a month to maintain the facilities. Utility bills went from $1,900 a month in 1995, when the arts agency was formed, to $4,000 a month this year.
Dr. Rob Wilder, the president of the agency's board of trustees, said repairs need to be made to the flooring, roof, boilers and ceiling fixtures in the Drake building.
But grant money and corporate sponsors are becoming scarce.
Ninety percent of the funding proposals sent out by the agency over the past six months have been denied, Griffith said.
''We believe in arts nourishment,'' she said, ''but when organizations are faced with the decision to help the arts or provide the basic need of food and shelter to people, they have to take care of basic human needs first.''
Mike Tierney, the newest member of the board, said he will contact business clubs and community organizations to try to bring back lost donations.
''I've learned pretty quickly that it takes the spirit of the community to keep arts affordable,'' he said. ''And it's the affordability that keeps arts accessible.''
One artist in residence at the Drake, Jim Dove, the vice president of Stage Left Theater Co., suggested putting on a free performance to draw a crowd and ask for donations.
''Our only other venue for performances would be at the high schools,'' Dove said, ''and they are outrageously expensive. We wouldn't have a home. This is community theater. It's not only a hobby for us, but kids love it and it gives them something to do.''
Pam Mazur, president of the Medina County Show Biz Co. at the Broadway Street Hall, said if the building closes, her group would also lose what they call home.
''We love it there,'' she said. ''The stage is huge. It's a beautiful stage to work on.''
The fundraising campaign will have a strong focus on tribute and memorial giving. There will also be the opportunity to name rooms and performance space at the Drake.
For more information about helping the campaign, contact Griffith by phone at 330-764-1999 or by e-mail at pgriffith@mcpaf.org.
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.
MEDINA: The global economic crisis may be dimming the lights on Broadway.
Get the full article here.
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