Asheville Area Center for the Performing Arts scales back fundraising effort

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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From my story in the Asheville Citizen-Times regarding the Asheville Area Center for the Performing Arts scaling back it’s effort to raise millions for a new performing arts center:

ASHEVILLE — The nonprofit that’s been raising money for the past decade to build a new performing arts center in the city has announced it is scaling back its effort.

“While we have received more than $5 million in cash and pledges from over 500donors, we will not move forward until the majority of funds for this ‘right-sized’ $30 million project have been secured,” the Asheville Area Center for the Performing Arts said in its newsletter.

In 2004, the organization began its formal push to build a new center to replace the aging U.S. Cellular Center and Thomas Wolfe Auditorium performance venues.

The group’s original fundraising target was $85 million. The proposal included a 2,100-seat performance hall, as well as a smaller hall for shows and rehearsals, as well as office and community space. Plans now call for a 1,750-seat hall with digital media arts center, multi-purpose room and education spaces, with a $30 million fundraising goal. The proposal is to build it just south of Pack Square Park.

Over the past several years, the organization had hired a design architect, acoustic designer and a host of consultants. The nonprofit was also paying its executive director, James Baudoin, a salary of more than $200,000 a year.