Superintendent Invites Community Leaders to Discuss Performing Arts Center

 
A multitude of county government and local city officials, business and industry leaders, and representatives from post-secondary institutions attended a Fayette County Community Leaders Meeting at the LaFayette Educational Center that was organized by Fayette County School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Barrow.

The main purpose was to start discussion and gather feedback on the possibility of Fayette County’s next signature project being a performing arts center, and what the center would look like and how it would be funded.

Dr. Barrow opened the discussion by pointing out that for the first time in history, there are five generations living in the community at one time: Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, Millennials, and Techies. 

“When we look at what the Fayette County Visioning Committee’s next signature project will be, it must be something that will appeal to all five generations represented in our community; a performing arts center would do that,” Dr. Barrow said.

The community leaders divided into groups to discuss the size, type, funding, and aesthetics of a possible performing arts center. The consensus was for a center that is both privately and publicly funded, multiple stage venues suited for various types of shows, a seating capacity of at least 2,500 persons, advanced technology and onsite food services to attract Broadway productions as well as corporate and social gatherings, meeting rooms, plenty of parking, and managed by a private company.

According to Dr. Barrow, such a facility would cost an estimated $40 million, but he announced that he has received a commitment from the private sector for $20 million.

The next step is to form a focus group made up of persons attending the Community Leaders Meeting to further discuss the construction of a performing arts center, as well as bring forward some possible schematics for the building.

“This is something that I am going to continue to push. The timing is right for us to have such a facility in our community,” Dr. Barrow said.

All ideas from the meeting will be combined and shared publicly, along with feedback that has already been given by the school system’s fine arts staff regarding their vision of a performing arts center.