Officials governing the future of the Overture Center for the Arts continue to press city officials to tip the City Council’s vote in favor of a new financial model by the end of this year.
The banks working with 201 State Foundation and Overture gave the end of this year as a non-adjustable deadline for a final decision. The next council meeting on Nov. 9 is scheduled to address Overture.
The current focus model for the future of Overture includes the city purchasing the building for $1 and covering operating costs, while the non-profit 201 State Foundation would run the business side.
After a City Council decision last week not to hire a consultant for the Overture focus model, Overture CEO and President Tom Carto said he was disappointed.
“[The consultant] would have absolutely validated the focus model,” Carto said. “We would have gotten a nice analysis.”
At the Board of Directors meeting Tuesday night, members urged one another to be proactive in persuading the council to make a decision in favor of Overture.
President and CEO of Overture and 201 State Board member Tom Carto said things need to be done immediately.
“Let’s not kick the can down the road, we need them to make this decision right now,” Carto said.
Carto repeatedly asked members of the board to attend next Monday’s Board of Estimates meeting to speak on behalf of Overture during public comment.
Board members said they were interested in distributing post cards to Council members at Overture events which will include more information about Overture’s benefits to the community before the Nov. 9 vote.
Additionally, Carto told board members he has not seen a reduction in donors, but the Foundation has not been actively pursuing donations recently.
Garton added she expects donors to come in strongly as the Foundation begins to push for donations in the early part of 2011.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, has said the Overture vote may be postponed until the December Council meeting, since the proposal is controversial and time consuming. Members of the Board of Directors of 201 State are urging a vote sooner. Board member Dierdre Garton said moving the vote to December would be difficult.
