Arts center delayed
The Performing Arts Center may come later than expected; tight state budget is to blame
Julie Lord
Issue date: 3/9/05 Section: News
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The budget strain in Illinois is to blame, according to Western President Al Goldfarb.
"The governor did not approve any capital funding last year due to the very difficult budget circumstances in the state," Goldfarb said.
The PAC, which was first approved in 2002, would require approximately $27,371,500 for the first phase of construction. The cost of the entire facility is estimated at $57 million.
The proposed building includes a 900-seat proscenium theater auditorium, a 300-seat thrust stage and a 150-seat studio theater, all to be used for a variety of university and local events and performances. The facility would be located in the southwest quadrant of campus between Browne and Corbin halls.
Questions about Western's PAC once again began to circulate when it became known that Eastern Illinois University recently received the funding to finish renovating its existing Doudna Fine Arts Center.
"Eastern's project was initially funded prior to our most recent request," Goldfarb said. "Their project is also a renovation of existing spaces."
The initial renovation of Eastern's Doudna Fine Arts Center began in the summer of 2002. Goldfarb added there have been delays at Eastern as well because all capital projects have been frozen for certain periods of time.
At a January meeting of the Faculty Senate, Goldfarb discussed the current budget issue and the PAC.
He informed the senate that while the PAC is 11th on the Illinois Board of Higher Education list for all colleges in the state, almost all the projects listed above it were completion or renovation projects, not new building projects.
Nevertheless, the need for Western to have its own PAC is being noticed more and more by Western students and the Macomb community. The College of Fine Arts and Communications Recital Hall has seen an increasingly full booking schedule since it opened in 2001, and the new theaters would allow more space for music, theatre and dance students to perform. The venues also would help to attract the interest of professional performing groups.
"The Performing Arts Center, along with our Quad Cities Campus, are our top two facilities priorities," Goldfarb said.
He added he thinks the new venue would create a variety of performing opportunities.
"I believe we have an outstanding proposal at the current time that provides facilities for our outstanding academic programs as well as touring productions," Goldfarb said.
According to Goldfarb, the proposal has received a generous amount of support from the IBHE and local legislators. He added he believes when the economy improves, the funds will be released.
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