Dayton Performing Arts Alliance: A Collaboration of Minds, Businesses, and Artistic Visions

Informations

• Publié par: dayton-philharmonic-orchestra
• Nombre de lectures: 22
• Langue: English

Extrait

Dayton Performing Arts Alliance: A

Collaboration of Minds, Businesses, and

Artistic Visions

PR Newswire

DAYTON, Ohio, July 9, 2012

DAYTON, Ohio

,

July 9, 2012

/PRNewswire/ -- Following more than two years of

due diligence, analysis, and planning the Dayton Ballet, Dayton Opera, and

Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra—

Dayton

's three classical performing arts

organizations — became a new, single entity on

July 1, 2012

: the

Dayton

Performing Arts Alliance

. While the organizations are now a single entity, the

three performing arts units will continue the process of merging organizations,

operationally. Video news release here.

"It took great foresight, courage, and leadership to engage in the complex due

diligence process and pursue a common vision. We are thrilled with what this

first-in-the-nation merger will mean for

Greater Dayton

,"

Mike Parks,

President of The Dayton Foundation

, said. "The Dayton Ballet, Opera, and

Philharmonic are integral to the cultural health of our community, and this

merger, this act of renewal, energizes our culture for generations to come."

The

Dayton Daily News called the merger

, "…a new day for arts in

Dayton

."

The organizations participated in a sound and thorough due diligence process in

their approach to the merger:

In late 2010, the executive directors of the three organizations and their respective

board Chairs met to determine if there was interest in creating one entity that would be

stronger than the three separate organizations.

The next phase was dedicated to determining if a comprehensive partnership and

merger plan could be developed. In

January 2011

, the Ballet, Opera, and Phil undertook

a six-to-eight-month study that began to develop the business case and business plan

for a potential merged organization. They engaged independent consultants from the

Strategic Leadership Associates, Inc. (a consulting company specializing in strategic

and sustainable organizational solutions) and The Dayton Foundation (an organization

that assists other nonprofits through providing funding and strategic expertise) to assist

the three organizations in the planning for the merger.

The arts organizations spent 16 months examining and planning for the merger. The

Dayton Foundation assisted the organizations' management and Boards with funds

from the Nonprofit Alliance Support Program. In

November 2011

, the groups were

notified of two special gifts that would be available, contingent on the merger taking

place:

$500,000

over two years from the Harry A. Toulmin, Jr., and Virginia B. Toulmin

Fund of The Dayton Foundation and another

$500,000

over two years from an

anonymous donor, with a potential additional grant of

$250,000

in year three.

The two new major grants will be used to help the Alliance manage costs

associated with the merger itself, and will provide additional operating support

for the first three years of operation, while economies of scale are realized.

These grants will also, and perhaps most importantly, provide support for new

artistic initiatives that are at the heart of this innovative merger plan.

In early February of 2012, the Merger Agreement was approved individually by each of

the arts organization's respective governing boards. In February and March of 2012, the

Dayton Ballet and

Dayton

Opera associations' membership, respectively and per those

organizations' by-laws, also approved the Merger.

As of

July 1, 2012

, the three organizations became a single entity. While the groups are

legally merged, they will continue the process of merging organizations, operationally.

This process has helped to foster a foundation for collaborations, and thus an

opportunity for exceptional artistic production and programming.

"It's been a long journey to reach this point, and now the really important work

begins," said

Paul Helfrich,

former President of the

Dayton Philharmonic

and, now,

President and Chief Executive Officer

of the merged

Dayton

Performing Arts Alliance

. "It's very exciting to be breaking new ground in a

way that we feel is destined for great success. I'm humbled to work with the

fantastic artists of the Dayton Ballet,

Dayton

Opera, and Dayton Philharmonic,

especially our distinguished Artistic Directors

Karen Russo Burke

,

Thomas

Bankston

, and

Neal Gittleman

. Together, we will build on this innovative

partnership and do great things."

About the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance

The Dayton Performing Arts Alliance was formed in

July 2012

as the result of a

groundbreaking and innovative merger between the Dayton Ballet, the

Dayton

Opera, and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. Together, they are the largest

performing arts organization in the community, offering a tremendous variety

of performance and education programs and setting a new standard for artistic

excellence. Dayton Performing Arts Alliance performances are made possible in

part by

Montgomery County

and Culture Works, the single largest source of

community funds for the arts and culture in the Miami Valley. The Dayton

Performing Arts Alliance also receives partial funding from the Ohio Arts

Council, a state agency created to foster and encourage the development of

the arts and to preserve

Ohio

's cultural heritage. Funding from the Ohio Arts

Council is an investment of state tax dollars that promotes economic growth,

educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all

Ohio

residents. The

Dayton Performing Arts Alliance is also the proud recipient of a 2012-2013

season grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

CONTACT:

Paul A. Helfrich

President and Chief Executive Officer

Dayton Performing Arts Alliance

Phone [phone] x.108

[e-mail]