This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
A new Performing Arts Center is in the works for Longmont. The Longmont Performing Arts Initiative is currently raising money to fund a feasibility study, which is the first major step towards building a dedicated facility for the performing arts in Longmont.
“The Feasibility Study is a doorknob of sorts. You won’t get into the building without it. It is as important to the project as constructing the building itself,” states Longmont Chorale President and LPAI Coordinator, Bob Balsman. The LPAI is halfway to their $75,000 goal, which they hope to achieve by June 1st.
In 2017, a group of local nonprofit performing arts including the Centennial State Ballet, Longmont Chorale, Longmont Concert Band, Longmont Symphony Orchestra, Longmont Youth Symphony, and Longs Peak Chorus all set out on a collaborative effort to help push Longmont’s performing arts in a new and exciting direction. The result is the Longmont Performing Arts Initiative (LPAI).
Only a year later, in May of 2018, the group presented their idea for performing arts center at the Longmont City Council's Annual Retreat. This was the start of the movement which continues to today, culminating in signing an MOU (Memoradum of Understanding) with the City of Longmont, Visit Longmont, Longmont Downtown Development Authority, Longmont Economic Development Partnership, Longmont Chamber of Commerce, and the Longmont Community Foundation to fund a feasibility study for the proposed new center.
LPAI believes that a performing arts center is needed in Longmont due to a lack of performing spaces in town that adequately accommodate the larger performance groups. Additionally, the limited capacity of the available facilities limits the number of patrons able to support these performance groups.
According to Balsman, "studies show that on average $31 over the price of a ticket is injected into the local economy for every performance, for every audience member. Right now, most of that flows out of Longmont & into other communities. Our groups already attract an audience of both Longmont residents and surrounding communities' residents. A dedicated facility would strengthen our offering by putting us in the proper setting as well as enable other performing artists to capitalize on its effect."
Another need in the Longmont community is a space that would accommodate groups of people in excess of 100 people. Nancy Rezac, executive director of Visit Longmont, stated that the feasibility study will include looking at the facility in three perspectives; a performing arts center alone, a hotel/convention center alone, or a combined performing arts and convention center. The study will determine which will be best supported by the Longmont community.
A convention center visitor spends an average of $400 per convention they attend, according to information recently relayed by Rezac. Balsman points out that this is additional revenue the City of Longmont would see with such a facility.
Currently, LPAI is waiting on the completion of the feasibility study to guide them on finding the appropriate funding solution for the proposed center. When asked if the facility would require a raise in taxes, Balsman stated, "LPAI is really not in a position to answer this question, as we are performing arts organizations. This would be better asked of the City or other entity which can comment on public finances."
In the meantime, the LPAI Development Committee is running a '75 in 75' campaign, with the intention of raising $75k, which is their portion of the cost of the feasibility study. The campaign began on Thursday, May 16th with a Matching Fund Drive to help reach their goal by the June 1st deadline.
"Now really is the time for Longmont to have a performance venue that accommodates the local performing organizations as well as regional and national traveling groups," states Jim Cole, assistant director of the Longs Peak Chorus.
You can read more about the project and their progress at www.LongmontCenter.org.
