Performing arts center nets $4 million pledge

Only six weeks left for other donors to step up

A longtime seasonal resident is the second lead donor to step forward and support the proposed Glacier Performing Arts Center.

The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, recently pledged $4 million for the facility, which is expected to cost about $19 million to build.

Jean Hagan, president of the performing arts center board, described the anonymous benefactor as "a longtime seasonal resident who's had a summer place on the west lakeshore for more than 50 years, and whose family has a strong commitment to this area."

The $4 million pledge comes six weeks after the center kicked off its main capital campaign - and two months after Red Lion Hotels and GVD Commercial Properties donated three acres of land next to Kalispell Center Mall for the 51,000-square-foot facility.

Despite this encouraging beginning, though, GPAC still has some major hurdles to clear in the next few weeks.

"We need to raise about $17 million by the end of May," Hagan said. "If we don't, we will likely terminate the project."

The center's total capital campaign goal is $26 million, which includes $19 million to build the facility, $1 million for the first year's operating budget, and $6 million for a permanent endowment to help keep ticket prices more affordable.

The plan is to raise the money in two phases: A $17 million "quiet" phase that will try to identify the four lead donors, followed by a $9 million "public" phase, during which donations large and small will be pursued from residents and area visitors.

"It's critical that we begin the public phase this summer," Hagan said. "We can't start in September and still be successful."

Red Lion's land donation is contingent upon construction starting by April 2007, she said, so the bulk of the financial pledges have to be secured well before that. And if lead donors don't step forward now, board members don't think it makes sense to begin the public phase.

Consequently, "our focus right now is on securing the lead gifts," Hagan said.

The $17 million goal breaks down into lead gifts of $7 million, $5 million and $1 million, as well as the recent $4 million pledge.

Although the prospect of raising the remaining $13 million in the next six weeks might seem daunting, Hagan said the hundreds of people who have volunteered their time to this project during the past several years all believe this dream can come true.

"You're talking to someone who couldn't sell a $5 raffle ticket eight years ago," she said. "I broke out in a cold sweat and ended up buying them all myself.

"But we've done so much background work on this project, I think we're really ready for this phase. We've done the feasibility studies. We've done the business plan. The people on our capital campaign advisory council reflect the strong support we have across the community. It's a project that has value culturally and economically, that will serve all of northwest Montana.

"We hope people will find it worthy of their support."

Each of the lead gifts includes "naming rights" to various areas.

A $7 million contribution, for example, gives someone the right to name the performing arts center, subject to approval by the board. For $5 million, the donor can name the main, 1,300-seat performance hall. The $4 million contribution provides naming rights for a smaller performance hall, and the million-dollar donor will be able to name the reception area.

The facility would be used for a wide variety of arts and entertainment events, including traveling Broadway-style shows, plays and musicals, concerts, dance performances, readings, guest speakers and lectures.

It would operate primarily on a space-for-hire basis. Entertainment firms and community groups would rent the center, book shows and take the risk. Wedding parties and other private groups also could rent space.

Drawings of the center, together with more detailed information about the business plan and budget, the names of the individuals on the capital campaign committee and board of directors, pledge forms and contact information can be found on the Web at

"We know we're missing some potential lead donors," Hagan said. "If people haven't been contacted and are interested in helping, they can get in touch with any of us."