La Crosse Performing Arts Center

Press Conference 11/9/11 

• On behalf of the University, I extend our gratitude to you, board members of the La Crosse Community Theatre and the LCT professional staff for the spirit of collaboration that has brought us together for this unique alliance. The La Crosse Performing Arts Center will be a wonderful home for the La Crosse Community Theatre, Viterbo University and for the people of the Coulee region.
• We’ve characterized this collaboration as a Convergence of Opportunity. A mid-size theatre was identified as a high priority in the 2009 Campus Master Plan for the University; the additional performance space is an important element to advance our goal to achieve national distinction in the performing arts. 
• This collaboration allows Viterbo to move forward sooner for the benefit of current and prospective students.  The new performing arts center will elevate Viterbo’s theatre and music theatre programs to an entirely new level.
• A vibrant downtown core is very important to the future success of Viterbo and to the community. This collaboration anchors the downtown arts district envisioned by many community leaders and we are delighted to have a visible presence on this beautiful location.
• When imagining the benefits to the university, to the LCT and to the downtown core, we took note of the unique collaboration between the Boys and Girls Clubs of La Crosse and Viterbo and the success of the Mathy Center. To our knowledge, there are no other collaborations between a university’s theatre program and a community theatre.           
• Our organizations have different missions but we complement each others’ strengths. We believe this project will add considerably to the beauty of the downtown and provide substantial economic benefits to tourism, the hospitality industry and to the quality of life in our community.
• The Viterbo University board of trustees is strongly supportive of the collaboration, and believes this is an opportunity that carries significant benefits. At its most recent meeting in mid-October, the trustees delegated to the executive committee of the board final approval of the collaboration, pending a review of the financial models and an operating agreement, now under development.

Working with me and senior leadership at Viterbo on this project has been our interim dean of the School of Fine Arts, Dr. Tim Schorr. Dr. Schorr will offer a few comments on the academic benefits of this collaboration.