The “community” oversight board for CenterStage has been announced by the mayor’s office.
Looks like Friday’s No BS Brass Band will be playing a funeral march after all. For $23 million dollars (at first) of your tax dollars.
Mayor Appoints Performing Arts Board For ‘Richmond CenterStage’ in Downtown
Mayor L. Douglas Wilder today announced today that Thomas F. Farrell II, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Dominion, will chair a volunteer board that will oversee the development and operation of Richmond CenterStage, a $65 million performing arts complex at the former Thalhimers location at 6th and Grace Streets.Other members of the 15-member Board include:
• Jean Boone, vice president, Richmond Free Press
• Theodore L. Chandler Jr., chairman and chief executive officer, LandAmerica Financial Group
• Joseph C. Farrell, retired chairman and chief operating officer, The Pittston Company
• Michael D. Fraizer, chairman and chief executive officer, Genworth Financial
• William H. Goodwin Jr., president, CCA Industries Inc.
• Robert J. Grey Jr., partner, Hunton & Williams
• Eva Teig Hardy, executive vice president, Dominion
• C.T. Hill, chairman, president and chief executive officer, SunTrust Bank Mid-Atlantic
• Susan Holsworth, research librarian, Afton Chemical Corporation
• John A. Luke Jr., chairman and chief executive officer, MeadWestvaco
• Marvette Monroe, assistant vice-president, First Market Bank
• Michael E. Szymanczyk, chairman and chief executive officer, Philip Morris USA
• Richard E. Toscan, dean, School of Arts, Virginia Commonwealth University
• James E. Ukrop, chairman, First Market BankThe Richmond Performing Arts Center’s Board of Directors represents a diverse range of experience and expertise in areas such as finance, development, facilities management and community stewardship.
Ah, but what this distinguished crew of Virginia Performing Arts Foundation (VAPAF) board members and corporate friends doesn’t represent is a diverse range of experience and expertise in … the arts.
You can read here why that might be kinda important. That is: If the city and VAPAF are serious about building a “community” arts center and not just writing new chapters in the annals of Richmond Downtown Boondoggledom.
And on that note, with all due respect to the mayor and Jeff Foxworthy…
When no actual performing artists are asked to sit on a “community” performing arts center board… you might still have a boondoggle.
When no neighboring representatives from the grassroots arts community are asked to sit on a “community” performing arts center board… you might still have a boondoggle.
When many of the same people who sat on the board of the group who bankrupted the Carpenter Center are sitting on a “community” performing arts center board … you might still have a boondoggle.
When many of the same people who wasted nearly $8 million in Richmond tax dollars are sitting on a “community” performing arts center board… you might still have a boondoggle
When many of the same people who spent more than $20 million to tear down a building, dig up a hole and then fill up the hole are sitting on a “community” performing arts center board…. you might still have a boondoggle.
When there are more representatives from Ukrop’s / First Market Bank than arts professionals on a “community” performing arts center board… you might still have a boondoggle.
When there are more representatives from Dominion Resources than arts professionals on a “community” performing arts center board… you might still have a boondoggle.
My only question, besides all of these: Which of the just-announced community arts representatives will be the one who brings in the CenterStage “hip-hop”?
(Oh… and please, please no one spill the beans about this. Let it be a surprise.)