Performing Arts Center

[vatusay]

The university has been paying a director of it for two years lol. Not even completed and they have spent, what I would guess, at least a half million on a director———directing nothing. Haha. 

[ST_Lawson]

The university has been paying a director of it for two years lol. Not even completed and they have spent, what I would guess, at least a half million on a director———directing nothing. Haha. 

 

I doubt it's anything close to half a million over two years. Very few people on campus make that kind of money. The president, HCs of football and basketball teams...that's about it.
Part of her job is to make sure we know what we need to do in terms of having networking/wifi set up, acquiring furniture and other physical resources, making contacts with booking services to start planning on who/what groups to bring in for performances, etc. All things that she's likely been working on for a while.

Waiting until the facility is finished before you hire someone to manage it is a good way to have a beautiful and perfectly usable building sitting completely unused for a solid 6-12 months.

[wiu712]

Anne Lefter is the Director for the Performing Arts Center.  Her starting salary is $101,000.

Lefter’s responsibilities at WIU will include season planning, marketing, audience development, recruiting, budgeting, and the day-to-day operations of the CPA.

WIU says operational funding will require significant philanthropic support.
 

[vatusay]

I retract my 500k number and enter $250k

better be some good WiFi and shows booked for a couple years. 

[NeckBone88]

I had the good fortune to receive an extensive tour of the Goldfarb center yesterday by the new director of the facility, Ann Lefter. Not only is this building impressive in scale and purpose, Ann is impressive as well. She is well versed with every nook, cranny, paint color and timeline in this project. She has obviously hit the ground running and is ready to steer this facility in a positive direction. I do not live in Macomb. I have no personal connection with Ann. Yesterday was the first time we have met. In my opinion, her skill set is well matched to the task at hand. Whether you feel this building was an appropriate use of resources or not, it is here to stay and it is an amazing asset for the future of WIU. I agree with many who have posted here. WIU could have used $119 million to offset years of deferred maintenance elsewhere on this campus. That option was never on the table. If Macomb did not get this building, some other community in Illinois would have received a new facility. I accept that it is here and support those who are working very hard to utilize it for its full potential. It is an beautiful addition to WIU. It was good to be back on campus yesterday and I look forward to attending future performances in the Goldfarb. A grateful Alum "88".
 

[wiu712]

The inaugural season schedule for WIU’s Goldfarb Center for Performing Arts.
From Tri-States Public Radio, WIUM-FM:
https://www.tspr.org/tspr-local-news/20 ... rming-arts
 
 

[ST_Lawson]

Lefter will be leaving to take a job as the Executive Director of the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center at the University of Northern Iowa: https://gbpac.com/engage-explore/anne-l ... rts-center

[wiu712]

Director of Goldfarb CPA leaving WIU.
From Tri-States Public Radio, WIUM-FM:
https://www.tspr.org/tspr-local-news/20 ... eaving-wiu

 
 

[rocki]

The inaugural season schedule for WIU’s Goldfarb Center for Performing Arts.
From Tri-States Public Radio, WIUM-FM:
https://www.tspr.org/tspr-local-news/20 ... rming-arts
 
 

 

Personally not impressed with the lineup for the first season. Going to have to do better than this to bring in people, in my opinion.