Looking back and ahead at NPAC
As we approach our fifth anniversary of the opening of the Niswonger Performing Arts Center of Northwest Ohio, it is a good time to see where we have come from and try to determine where we are headed in the future. At our recent Van Wert Area Performing Arts Foundation board meeting, we had a good discussion about where we currently are as a performing arts organization. We also discussed perceptions and realities about the NPAC.
I have been writing this column since my hiring at The Van Wert County Foundation in 2002. At that time, the idea of a performing arts center like we now have wasn’t even a dream in most of our minds, and certainly not mine. I had a dream of making music more prevalent in our area, but not to the magnitude of what we currently have facility-wise.
When I look back at other writings of “Music in Van Wert” before the NPAC was built, I see a lot of issues that were bantered about throughout the community. I tried to address some of them occasionally. Now, in retrospect, many of the things I wrote about have come true. That is exciting!
We are now approaching five years of presenting concerts and events at the NPAC. The VWAPAF has been in existence for nearly 6½ years. Since then, many things have evolved. We have forged a relationship with the Van Wert City Schools through a lease agreement. What began as a miniscule $1,200 per year we were paying the schools has now grown to a full 50/50 split where we now reimburse the schools over $30,000 per year in utilities and supplies. That is a huge increase in less than five years, but one we have thankfully been able to deal with.
Many people have told us they cannot believe the artists and concerts we have been able to bring to Van Wert. Another comment we frequently hear is that our prices are much less than larger surrounding areas. This is intentional. We realize that many things (with the possible exception of gasoline!) are less expensive in Van Wert. With this in mind, we try very hard to broker great deals for our patrons, knowing that we just don’t expect to pay as much. We look for quality at a great price.
I realize that the perception is that the NPAC is doing a fairly good job. We have been the recipients of some very nice awards, for which we are grateful. You should know, however, that the VWAPAF is a non-profit organization and our mission is not to make a lot of money, but to hopefully break even. That being said, we do have thousands of dollars that are needed to cover expenses beyond paying our concert fees. With the support of ticket buyers, underwriters, grants, in-kind contributions, memberships and many other various resources, we have been able to operate a successful venue. Ticket sales generate 74 percent of our revenue. This is a very high number. The remaining 26 percent comes from all the aforementioned sources.
Some concerts make money, which provides the needed financial resources; however, some concerts do not. This could be because of lower ticket sales or maybe high production costs. We have paid nearly $10,000 above concert fees just for production costs.
So in summation, we have expenses just like every other business. The more we can control costs and the more support we can receive, the better the product we can offer everyone. It is a tight line we walk many days, but one we as a board and staff are determined to work hard at so we can deliver a great product of entertainment for the region.
We are currently working on a spectacular fifth anniversary season we hope everyone can enjoy. In the meantime, we have many great opportunities left this season… and they will start coming in rapid fire soon: The Women of Ireland this Saturday, followed by Fiddler on the Roof on March 3 (two shows!), then the Navy Sea Chanters (to which tickets are being released today!), followed by three more in the month of March.
Thank you for your continued support. We hope to be around for another five years as we look and plan into the future.
FINÉ.
POSTED: 02/22/12 at 5:00 am. FILED UNDER: News