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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #466 |
| The Florida Center for Preforming Arts and Education |
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| Requester: |
John marks, Mayor |
Organization: |
City of Tallahassee |
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| Project Title: |
The Florida Center for Preforming Arts and Education |
Date Submitted |
12/20/2007 10:01:02 AM |
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| Sponsors: |
Lawson |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| The proposed project will provide a 242,000 square-foot facility that will provide cultural programming and educational services to state and local residents. It would provide a performing arts center in the state capital and eliminate the current situation in which Florida is the only state capital that does not have a performing art center. This project directly addresses a statewide interest in that it would promote cultural programming and education. In 2005 the Florida Arts Council, with the support of the Florida Department of State, develop a strategic plan for promoting cultural activities entitled "Culture Builds Florida's Future". This plan provides compelling evidence of the significant role that the arts and cultural programs play in the economic growth and prosperity of the state. The Plan acknowledges that the state has a significant interest in the growth of cultural programs and facilities. The Plan recommends that local and regional entities include an arts and cultural asset component to their economic development plans. The Plan also recommends that the state "build endowments for cultural organizations and/or supporting activities that encourage infrastructure and capacity building". The Florida Center for Performing Arts and Education was developed as part of a strategic cultural planning process that the City of Tallahassee completed in 2004. This project specifically addresses the state interests enumerated in the state's cultural plan in that it was developed as part of local plan which focused on the economic benefits which cultural programs provide and is a critical infrastructure component to the state capital's economic and cultural growth. |
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| Recipient: |
The Florida Center for Performing Arts and Education Inc. |
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Contact: |
Sylvia Ochs |
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831 Lakeridge Drive |
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Contact Phone: |
(850) 893-2497 |
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Tallahassee 32312 |
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Contact email: |
sylviaochs@mac.com |
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| Counties: |
Leon |
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| Gov't Entity: |
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Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
Yes |
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| Project Description: |
| The Florida Center for Performing Arts and Education will be a 241,742 square-foot facility which will include a 2,200 seat Performance Hall and 650 seat multipurpose Theatre. The facility will be located in downtown on the block bounded by Duval Street on the east, Madison Street on the north, Bronough Street on the west and Gaines Street on the south. This block is property that the City of Tallahassee purchased from the State in 2006 and previously housed the Johns Building. The construction program for this facility was developed by Theatre Consultants Inc. and is intended to meet the following objectives: (1) provide a facility and programming which can serve as "Florida's Classroom" where citizens, organization and educational institutions present, learn, and enjoy activities related to arts, culture, history, education, state government, local governments, community development and community events; (2) provide a facility and programming that will offer comprehensive arts and education and community outreach programs; (3) provide a facility and programming that will serve as a catalyst for economic growth in Tallahassee and Leon County and promote the revitalization of downtown and Gaines Street redevelopment; and (4) provide a venue to attract visiting artists to the State Capital to educate and entertain residents. The Florida Center for Performing Arts and Education was developed through a comprehensive community based planning process that began in 2003. The City of Tallahassee appointed a "Cultural Plan Advisory Committee" to develop a comprehensive plan to promote the growth of arts and cultural programs in the capital city area. The Advisory Committee was composed of community volunteers, who with the assistance of the Tallahassee /Leon County Cultural Affairs Commission and staff provided by the City, developed a comprehensive cultural plan. The plan, entitled "Capital Culture: A Cultural Plan for the Future of the City of Tallahassee and the Capital Area", established six goals to strengthen cultural programming and to use the community's cultural assets to encourage economic development, educational improvements and to enhance the quality of life in the community. One of the recommendations in the cultural plan was to develop a performing arts center in downtown Tallahassee. Both the Tallahassee City Commission and the Leon County Commission adopted the Cultural Plan, and in 2004 Leon County approved adding one penny to the local "bed tax" to support the development of the performing arts center. In 2005 the Cultural Resources Commission hired Theatre Consultants Inc. to conduct a feasibility study to determine whether a performing arts facility could be supported. The study determined that a facility was feasible in Tallahassee, and the consultants went on to develop a construction program, operating pro-forma and site recommendations for the center. In 2006 the City Commission approved designating the 2.6-acre parcel that it had recently acquired from the State, at a cost of $2,950,000, as the site for the performing arts center. A non-profit entity, The Florida Center for Performing Arts and Education, Inc., has been formed to facilitate the development of the Center. The facility will provide programs that (a) attract visiting artists and performers to provide entertainment and educational performances, (b) provide resources for local arts and cultural groups to provide entertainment and educational performances, (c) educational programs which support the community's primary and secondary educational institutions and (d) educational programs which support state residents and visitors in the Capital City. The total estimated cost to construct the Center is approximately $114 million. The requested funding will be used to support the costs for development of the plans and specifications for the Center. |
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| Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| The proposed project will have measurable outcomes in terms of economic impact, educational improvements and quality of life measures. The Tallahassee/Leon County Cultural Resources Commission retained Theatre Consultants Inc. (TCI) to conduct a feasibility study for the development of a performing arts facility in Tallahassee. The scope of the study included developing recommendations on the size and design of the facility and estimating the economic impact of the project. TCI developed economic impact estimates for both the construction and operation of the proposed facility. The economic impact of the estimated $85 million in direct construction expenses are: (a) $148 million in new economic activity in the regional economy, (b) $41 million in new worker earnings, (c) 1,300 person-years in new local employment, (d) $3.3 million in state tax revenues, and (e) $100,000 in local sales tax revenue. Once operational the facility will generate the following economic impacts: (a) $10.6 million in annual new regional economic activity, (b) 149 new jobs with $3.8 million in annual increased earnings, (c) $802,000 in annual state tax revenue, and (d) $200,000 in local sales tax revenue. The total estimated cost for the project is $114 million. The requested state contribution of $5 million would provide for 4% of the estimated project cost and would reflect a high level of leveraging by the state. The proposed facility will also serve as an important community educational asset. The facility will include a 2200-seat performance hall, 650 seat multipurpose theatre, and associated rehearsal, set design, and dressing room space. The Performance Center will be integrated into the arts and cultural curriculum developed in conjunction with the Leon County School District. The facility will also be available to support the performance needs of Florida State University and Florida A&M University. In research conducted by the Americans for the Arts organization there is measurable increases in student performance when arts programming is part of the curriculum. Students that participate in arts programming are 4 times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement. When Palm Beach County introduced arts based programming for their students and arts based training for their teachers there was a significant impact on the FCAT reading scores for the student participants. This facility is a critical component of an overall arts and culture curriculum for our school system that will result in measurable increases in student performance. Active arts and cultural programming is an important contributor to wellness and quality of life. Partners for Livable Communities periodically identify the nation's "most livable communities". In Florida, Jacksonville, Orlando, St. Petersburg, and Jacksonville have been recognized as "most livable" and their active cultural programming played a large part in that designation. Facilities that provide access to creative programs for seniors, persons with special needs, and youth produce measurable benefits in wellness and quality of life. |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$5,000,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$6,000,000 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Construction |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Local, Private |
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Cash Amount |
$1,000,000 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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No |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
Unknown |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
Feasibility study by Theatre Consultants, Inc. |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Tallaassee City Commission andLeon County Commission |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
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No |
