The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Change at the top
A restructuring in the leadership of the Mt. Crested Butte Performing Arts Center (PAC) project took place last week. Board president Margery Feldberg and capital campaign chair David Clayton have been replaced. Tom Biery, president of the Crested Butte Music Festival, and Tom Seymour, a music festival appointee to the PAC board, have stepped in to share the title of president of the PAC and capital campaign chair.
“With considerable resources (new officers and a capital consulting firm) being added to the project known as the Mt. Crested Butte Performing Arts Center, a management restructure has been effected,” PAC board chairman William Buck said in a statement.
The PAC is a planned 30,000-square-foot facility that, when realized, could accommodate conferences, offer public spaces and a 400- to 500-seat state-of-the-art auditorium and stage. The project, a joint venture between the Town of Mt. Crested Butte and the Crested Butte Music Festival, is currently in a “silent phase” of fund raising.
Tom Biery and Tom Seymour will fill the office of the president, CEO and capital campaign committee (CCC) chair. William Buck, mayor of Mt. Crested Butte, will serve as chairman of the board. Joe Fitzpatrick will serve as vice president. Secretary and treasurer positions remain the same. Kathleen Curry will also continue to serve as the PAC’s executive director.
After resigning late last week, Clayton, who led the capital campaign through much of the plan’s development and into the silent phase of fundraising, said, “I just felt that after getting things started I needed to step away for a while. I still feel the project is one of the most important things that can happen in the valley right now.” Feldberg could not be reached for comment but also expressed support to the board for the project moving forward. “Our thanks go to Ms. Feldberg for all she has done for the PAC project and we wish her the very best,” Buck says.
Curry says the transition will take a couple of weeks to become official, as titles and paperwork need to be put in order. “There will be some transition work, some retooling but it won’t be a significant setback,” she said.
Returning to help the PAC in its fundraising efforts is Denver and Houston-based Franks and Associates, a consulting firm specializing in counseling not-for-profit organizations and providing fundraising services to performing arts and cultural facilities development.
“As the fundraising campaign for the PAC continues, the benefits of the project for Crested Butte and for the entire valley will come into greater focus. In addition to the PAC being used for the performing arts, it will be available for conventions, conferences and other large gatherings,” Buck said. “Also, the PAC will have facilities for educational programs for children across the valley.”
According to Buck, “Under the terms of a development agreement between the Town of Mt. Crested Butte and the Crested Butte Music Festival, the music festival is charged with the responsibility of leading the capital campaign to raise funds for the PAC. The music festival is reinforcing that commitment with the establishment of an office of the president of the PAC…”
Nine people make up the PAC board of directors, including four members appointed by the town, four appointed by the music festival and Western State College president Jay Helman, who is the board-selected at-large member.
“The fund raising efforts of the PAC are currently focusing on large donations, and this primary emphasis will continue for some time. As these efforts continue, there will be announcements from time to time,” Buck summarizes.
