Entries Tagged 'Washington Pavilion' ↓

Seems a little ODD that someone who has been doing the job for almost 6 years just suddenly leaves without a peep from Pavilion management. She has also been removed from there management page with NO replacement listed.

According to Allison’s professional page;

Director of Development

Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science

Nonprofit; 51-200 employees; Museums and Institutions industry

September 2007– May 2013 (5 years 9 months)

Responsible for creating and implementing the annual Development Plan.  Work with a wonderful team of 5 full-time employees who coordinate grant writing, membership recruitment/retention, donations, special projects and volunteers.  They are simply the joy of my professional life.  Contribute over $1,000,000 toward the operating budget of the Washington Pavilion.  Commited to providing quality experiences for all the patrons of the Pavilion.  Proudly a member of thePavilion’s Director Management Team.

Usually when a high-profile management person leaves the Pavilion there is at least some kind of an announcement. Allison’s job was very important, she was in charge of bringing in grant money, donations and other subsidies to the Pavilion. This is not position that just goes away quietly in the night.

Maybe I am misinformed and missed a media piece about it or a press release. If so, please forward it to me, I would like to clarify her departure. The Pavilion had a rough year in 2012, wondering if there is a piece of the puzzle we are missing here?

Not sure if you caught the story in the AL today about the Pavilion’s financials in 2012, but it didn’t paint a pretty picture about entertainment facilities in this town. Normally, the Great Hall at the Pavilion is a good money maker for them. Not so much last year. Ticket sales were down $290,000 in 2012 compared to 2011. Remember, this is a 1,900 seat facility, not a 12,000 seat facility.

My concerns about building a new Event Center has always been about how much we will have to support it. The Pavilion gets a $1.4 million dollar subsidy from the city each year. Can you imagine what kind of subsidy we will have to throw towards the Event Center?

I was talking to a local ‘journalist’ the other day about the possibility of Huether’s 2nd mayoral term (I still think he is running for governor, or at least exploring it). The one ‘good’ thing about a 2nd reign of terror by Huether is that when the subsidy numbers start rolling in, he would be in the middle of his second term, and he will have to do a lot of explaining about the profitability of the Event Center.

Can the EC do better then the Pavilion? Sure. But the Pavilion has been around for 12 years, and when your ‘money maker’ within your facility takes a hit like $290,000 in one year due to low ticket sales, you have to start questioning if the ticket sales will be there with the EC.

I felt all along we should have just dumped $20 million into the existing Arena and remodel it to look like a new facility instead of building an over-sized new facility.

You also have to factor in all the other competing sports entertainment facility that are popping up around town like pimples on a teenagers face. This will take sales away from the EC to.

We should have seen this a mile away.

I’m taking over so Nan Baker can ‘spend more time with her family.’ *(The standard excuse for regime change.)

Got this email today;

The Board of Directors of the Sioux Falls Arts Council today announced that Tim Hoheisel has been named Executive Director of the non-profit arts organization.  Nan Baker, part-time Arts Council Executive Director since 2010, is transitioning out of the position to spend more time with her family.  Hoheisel will become the full-time Executive Director on July 2.

Huh? I thought that the SE Arts Council’s problem was they had to pay a couple of people to run the joint, so now all of a sudden they are hiring a full-time person? To do what? Send out a monthly newsletter? Can I be his assistant? Can I also have a wet bar and futon in my office?

Over the years, I have watched how things don’t change much at the Pavilion.

While they do try new things here and there, they really struggle with providing real adult entertainment. I know in the past when they have tried adult themed events they have gone over very well.

In no way am I telling the Pavilion what to do, and I certainly have not contacted them about any of my ideas. But with downtown Sioux Falls becoming more hopping and popular with younger people I think it is time the Pavilion tap into that energy.

My ideas are simple, gear Friday and Saturday night programs towards young adults 18-35.

You could set-up Leonardos as a lounge that also serves appetizers and you could put on laser light shows in the Cinedome. You could also do tours through the art galleries. There is also a ton of other combinations of different events you could try. Small local band performances in the Belbas or Schulte theaters, comedy acts or even indy films.

I know the Pavilion has tried some of these things on a ‘One-Tier’ level, but never a combination of events. I know Larry Toll has asked me to contact him, maybe I just will.

If Paul Schiller and Groth want to have a show about weather, I suggest they tough it out like the rest of us artists and put it up in some coffeehouse;

Just in time for summer vacation, there’s a new exhibit at the Washington Pavilion. ”Beauty In The Beast” features pieces from South Dakota artists highlighting the weather.  Along with Paul Schiller, four other local artists lend their talents to the collection.

“Mary Groth, Nancyjane [Huehl] and Dale Lamphere are probably some of South Dakota’s best when it comes to art, and it’s a real honor to be able to work with them,” Schiller said.

Do I think an exhibit like this is cool, meh, but what bugs me the most is that it seems since Schiller and Groth used to sit on the board of directors they can feature their artwork in the building as many times as they want to.

It’s getting old. Go buy your own museum already.

I’m starting to think the one thing the Pavilion has been missing is a little business acumen. Gawd, never thought I would agree with Mayor Huether.

The Pavilion came out $492,422 ahead in 2o11.

If you substract the city subsidy, they are still $875,735 in the hole. This has been a sticking point with the Pavilion. My feelings on the subsidy? I think it will have to continue, but the Pavilion and the city needs to figure out a way to ween themselves eventually, especially with the opening of the Events Center. I will agree with the Pavilion on one issue, the entertainment tax funds the Pavilion, which makes sense. Citizens are not being taxed extra in retail taxes or property taxes to fund the Pavilion. Basically if you are paying for entertainment in SF (eating out) you are subsidizing the Pavilion. This isn’t a bad thing. Something that is not shown in this financial report: (washpav-2012) Is the fact that the city owns the building, so any repairs or upgrades must come out of the capital improvement funds, (UPDATED: according to Toll at the informational meeting today (Item C) any capital improvements comes out of the entertainment tax) this fund of course comes from regular retail taxes. The ultimate goal of the Pavilion shouldn’t be eliminating the entertainment tax subsidy, but it should be making them pay for their own upgrades out of that subsidy, the Washington Pavilion Management Co. essentially leases the building, if they want new windows, etc., they should HELP pay for them.

But that is an argument for another day.

I will say I have been impressed with Toll’s leadership and his effort to try to get a handle on the financials of the Pavilion. It is a beautiful facility and an asset to this city (A big F’ing a$$et). If I ever have had one complaint about the Pavilion (well I have several) is that I wish it was more inviting to everyone. Art means different things to different people. To some it is a quiet sonata, to others it is a bouncing mezzanine. You need both to succeed, and once the Pavilionites figure this out, they will always be in the black.

And now a little video of one of my favorite performers at the Pavilion;

I got another donation letter in the mail the other day. I was a bit surprised, it was from the Pavilion. Thought I was off of their mailing list, a long time ago. I didn’t get around to opening it until this morning, and I found this note at the bottom from Larry Toll;

Before you all freak out, I have posted in the past that I think the Pavilion putting on a drag show was a good thing, it opens our minds to different forms of art. Shortly after the drag show occurred, I approached Mr. Toll at a local watering hole one day and thanked him for putting on the event.

I was in the other day and enjoyed the FREE visual arts center. Sorry Larry though, it’s going to take a lot more then a good drag show for me to donate to the Pavilion. Been there – done that.

Not sure what to think about this? As you can see at the beginning of the SF city council informational meeting, Director Larry Toll makes a presentation about bringing in a traveling science exhibit, but in order to do it, he must transfer funds from a planned infrastructure project. While I think traveling exhibits at the Pavilion are a good thing, I question this move.

It is no secret that the Kirby Science Center has not been as popular as expected, BUT, I will say this, if they would change their hours to nights (when families are spending time together and parking is free DT), they would get more people in the facility. I still don’t understand the resistance?

If I was the city council, I would approve the transfer of funds on those conditions.

I had to laugh, there isn’t anything the PAV won’t do to bring in money, including a drag show;

At 8 p.m. Aug. 19, there’s a drag show in the Warhol gallery, available for the regular price of admission to the gallery.

I think this is awesome. If you have never been to a good drag show (and I am not talking about those rinky-dink shows they used to put on a Touchez) they are non-stop entertainment, gutt-hurt (not butt-hurt) laughing entertainment. You would be amazed what duct tape can do. While I think the drag show idea is clever, I am concerned about the continuing trend of the Pavilion to be charging for so-so visual art exhibits;

“I think the people who are coming to Warhol know there’s a charge, and those who don’t still buy tickets,” Merhib said. “People are used to big cities where, in general, there’s a fee to see a show.”

Sorry David Money Bags. One of the selling points of the Pavilion to me was the FREE visual arts center. It’s hard enough exposing people to the arts, especially in this town, but to start charging for exhibits that really are not world class brings that elitist label a little bit closer to home. How many people do you think from lower income neighborhoods are willing to drop $10 on an exhibit they can see for free at the library in a book? What if it was free? I find this new trend at the VAC to be a bit disturbing. What has made the PAV unique is its FREE Visual Arts Center, but it seems now, everything is for sale, even men who lip-sync Whitney Houston songs.

The very talented Hope will be partaking;

On Wednesday, July 13 from 6 to 9pm the Washington Pavilion is teaming up with the Sioux Falls Arts Council to present Ink-Fest 2011.

What a better way to capture a demographic that is alive and well in this region than to combine Andy Warhol with our fiends with “ink”. Four area Tattoo studios will provide up to two artists to participate and create a work of art before your very eyes. These artists will be stationed in the middle of the second floor lobby, next to the bar. Those being tattooed will be pre-selected by the artists prior to the event and you will have a change to see the artists in action and schedule your future appointment. Come watch the process, regardless of its your first time or fiftieth, we want to bring this demonstration of artwork being created LIVE! in front of you at Your Washington Pavilion!

That’s not all; in the Andy Warhol exhibition there will be 24 tattooed models that represent one of the artists on the second floor lobby. Tattoos alongside the Pope of Pop! You will have a chance to vote on your favorite tattoo(s) and the winner gets a cash prize.

This event is perfect for art enthusiasts! Just a recap and what to know before you go! :

• 4 local tattoo shops will be showing off 24 models with body art.

• The event itself is FREE but a $10 fee is charged for the Andy Warhol exhibit. The $10 will also get you a FREE beer for people 21+.

• The event is being held on July 13, 6 – 9 p.m. on the 2nd floor lobby of the Pavilion.

• For more information visit our Box Office or call us at (605) 367-6000. This is a once in a lifetime event that you don’t want to miss!

• P.S. Say “NO KIDDING!” at the Box Office to get a $1 off of the Andy Warhol exhibition.