City of Lakewood Provides Rescue Funds For Beck Center

[Bill Call]

The City of Lakewood has provided $100,000 to the Beck Center:

http://www.cleveland.com/arts/index.ssf ... ribut.html

This is a good example of our pro-active Mayor in action.

However, if the Beck is as important as people seem to think isn't it time to think of a more permanent solution? And where is the Star Chamber For Arts? $25 million a year in tax dollars and when the Beck needs extra cash they don't return phone calls?

[Jim O'Bryan]

However, if the Beck is as important as people seem to think isn't it time to think of a more permanent solution? And where is the Star Chamber For Arts? $25 million a year in tax dollars and when the Beck needs extra cash they don't return phone calls?

Bill

Indeed where is the Star Chamber for the Arts. Where is the "Arts District Impact" we were told about by the city and other civic groups like LakewoodAlive.

I would hope that this was a loan, not a gift. Maybe a loan secured by the armory.

FWIW


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[sharon kinsella]

Okay, cut senior services yet give the Beck $100,000.00.

I can't even afford to go there so how is it serving me?

How many families can afford the Beck?

With their high admission rates, why do they need money from us?

[Ivor Karabatkovic]

With their high admission rates, why do they need money from us?

You just answered your own question, Sharon!

[Thealexa Becker]

I think a more permanent solution would entail the Beck Center re-evaluating its audience and making ticket prices more reasonable.

The edgy avant-guard material is great for young people with the money to spend on it, but not so great for families or those looking for something light and fun at a decent price.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Hey Great News From The Beck!

Beck Center Nearing Halfway Mark in Fundraising Goal
Arts Center Still Needs $150,000 by the end of April

Lakewood, OH—Beck Center for the Arts is grateful to the City of Lakewood for its announcement yesterday to commit to long-term investment in the organization. Stories about the City’s contribution have raised questions from the public about the status of our current fundraising campaign.

We have an immediate need to raise $150,000 by the end of April for operational support. To date, approximately $75,000 has been raised toward that short-term goal. The Beck Center is still encouraging its friends and supporters to continue to help in this time of crisis.

The City of Lakewood’s commitment of energy efficiency project funding and debt restructuring helps our long-term capitalization goal, which is $600,000 by the end of November. The Beck Center Board of Directors is committed to a capitalization plan to ensure our long-term financial stability. The announcement from the City of Lakewood is the lead gift and a strong show of support for this long-term campaign.

One of the region’s largest arts organizations, Beck Center for the Arts is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that offers professional theater productions on two stages, arts education programming in dance, music, theater, visual arts, early childhood, and creative arts therapies for special needs students, and gallery exhibits featuring local and regional artists.

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Missy S. Toms
Director of Marketing & External Affairs
Beck Center for the Arts
17801 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, OH 44107
mtoms@beckcenter.org



It would appear that if we subtract the $100,000 from this we only need another $50,000 for their annual fund raising drive.

Good work Beck Center!


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[dl meckes]

Where is the "Arts District Impact" we were told about by the city and other civic groups like LakewoodAlive.

You have to have Arts Districts before you can work on leveraging them to make an impact.

Furthermore, you can't simply declare that an area is an arts district and expect that some wonderful, magical, Arts fairy (or Arts Star Chamber) will rain money down on a city.

The Beck Center brings people to Lakewood and those people spend money in Lakewood. The Beck benefits and so do local businesses. It's a lot of money (no, I don't have the figure, but I bet Nate Kelly does).

Part of the City's contribution was forgiving a loan, something that has been under consideration for at least three years - and probably four.

[Brian Pedaci]

The CAC (Bill's "Star Chamber") isn't set up to provide rapid disbursements of cash to organizations in immediate crisis. There's a yearly review process. The Beck got $180,000 in their last round of annual general operating support grants. If it weren't for them, perhaps we'd have seen this appeal much earlier...

[Heather Ramsey]

I think a more permanent solution would entail the Beck Center re-evaluating its audience and making ticket prices more reasonable.

The edgy avant-guard material is great for young people with the money to spend on it, but not so great for families or those looking for something light and fun at a decent price.

I agree that edgy material is good for young people, but not that said young people can afford to actually see it (in other words, I can't afford it but am pretty sure I'm in that age bracket).

I do think they do a fair amount of family-oriented stuff (seems like they do Beauty and the Beast once every few months!), but, the decent price portion of the equation is still missing.

[Will Brown]

I've never thought the ticket prices at the Beck Center are high, especially given the quality of their shows.

I recall recently they did an evaluation of their situation, and concluded (gasp!) that perhaps locating outside of Lakewood might improve their lot, so be careful what you ask for.

And they offer more to the community than just a theater. I think they are a valuable asset for the community. If the city must dabble in the arts, I think the Beck is the type of activity that it should assist.

[Brad Hutchison]

I think a more permanent solution would entail the Beck Center re-evaluating its audience and making ticket prices more reasonable.

The edgy avant-guard material is great for young people with the money to spend on it, but not so great for families or those looking for something light and fun at a decent price.

I agree that edgy material is good for young people, but not that said young people can afford to actually see it (in other words, I can't afford it but am pretty sure I'm in that age bracket).

I do think they do a fair amount of family-oriented stuff (seems like they do Beauty and the Beast once every few months!), but, the decent price portion of the equation is still missing.

I have a friend that was in Peter Pan this past winter.