Sanibel Island Schoolhouse Theater, Big Arts Organizations Plan to Join Forces
Sanibel Island, FL, April 23, 2010 --(PR.com)-- The boards of directors of two Sanibel arts organizations announced today the intention to join forces. The Herb Strauss Schoolhouse Theater located at 2200 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Island, will become part of the BIG ARTS family of programs and productions effective immediately pending approval of the theater’s foundation members.
A $1 million challenge grant to the BIG ARTS Endowment Fund has been pledged by island residents John and Mary Jo Boler who are benefactors of both The Schoolhouse Theater Foundation and BIG ARTS. Steve and Debbie Klug along with the Klug Family Foundation pledged to match the first $500,000 of the Boler’s gift to secure the $1 million endowment to specifically support the theater operations in perpetuity. The second half of the matching grant ($500,000) will be raised by BIG ARTS and used to support the full range of BIG ARTS programs. Steve Klug is also current president of the board of The Schoolhouse Theater Foundation, the supportive organization of The Herb Strauss Schoolhouse Theater. The conditions of the gift include that the annual earnings of the $1 million endowment will support theater operations and the direction of the theater will be under Art Cassell, former president of The Schoolhouse Theater Foundation.
The Schoolhouse Foundation board of directors approved the proposal with an overwhelming majority at a board meeting held on April 19.
“Little change to the high quality theater experience will be noticed by the patrons of the Herb Strauss Schoolhouse Theater,” says Steve Klug. “This consistency of quality comes with the added guarantee that live theater will continue on the island with a stronger financial base, more efficient operations and broader reach to members of BIG ARTS, and island residents and visitors.”
The move will combine the management, marketing, fundraising and volunteer program operations into one collaborative effort making the organizations more efficient and financially stable. Upon approval, assets of The Schoolhouse Foundation will be transferred to BIG ARTS. Klug will join the BIG ARTS board of directors to provide continuity and oversight of the transition of operations at the board level.
“This is a huge plus for our community and for the arts,” says Chuck Bonser, president of the BIG ARTS board of directors. “At a time when non-profit organizations all over the country, particularly the Arts organizations, and even including the public schools Arts programs, are suffering cutbacks and program eliminations, BIG ARTS, The Herb Strauss Schoolhouse Theater, and the Sanibel-Captiva community all owe John and Mary Jo Boler and Steve and Debbie Klug a great debt for their willingness to step forward with these leadership gifts to our citizens and visitors.”
The members of the Schoolhouse Theater Foundation will be sent a letter outlining the proposal this week and members will be asked to vote on the proposed structure change at a special meeting of the members on April 30 at 10 a.m. at The Herb Strauss Schoolhouse Theater.
No immediate changes to staff have been planned during the transition in management, according to BIG ARTS officials. The current members of The Schoolhouse Theater Foundation will become automatic members of BIG ARTS until the annual renewal deadline.
“We welcome broadening our offerings and look forward to the collaboration of our staffs, volunteers and benefactors to make the BIG ARTS programs, and the theater program in particular, as strong as possible,” says BIG ARTS Executive Director Lee Harder. “We look forward to the synergies afforded by this talented group of theater staff, volunteers, actors and artistic director Victor Legarreta.”
About BIG ARTS
BIG ARTS is a 501c3 organization based at 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel Island, Florida. Its mission is to provide quality cultural and educational experiences to the residents of and visitors to Sanibel, Captiva and neighboring communities. From musical concerts, dance performances, family entertainment, visual arts exhibits and programs, writers conferences, lectures series, film society programs and theater productions, BIG ARTS is known as a home for all the arts on Sanibel Island. BIG ARTS is located at 900 Dunlop Road Sanibel, (239) 395-0900, e-mail info@BIGARTS.org, or log on to www.BIGARTS.org.
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A $1 million challenge grant to the BIG ARTS Endowment Fund has been pledged by island residents John and Mary Jo Boler who are benefactors of both The Schoolhouse Theater Foundation and BIG ARTS. Steve and Debbie Klug along with the Klug Family Foundation pledged to match the first $500,000 of the Boler’s gift to secure the $1 million endowment to specifically support the theater operations in perpetuity. The second half of the matching grant ($500,000) will be raised by BIG ARTS and used to support the full range of BIG ARTS programs. Steve Klug is also current president of the board of The Schoolhouse Theater Foundation, the supportive organization of The Herb Strauss Schoolhouse Theater. The conditions of the gift include that the annual earnings of the $1 million endowment will support theater operations and the direction of the theater will be under Art Cassell, former president of The Schoolhouse Theater Foundation.
The Schoolhouse Foundation board of directors approved the proposal with an overwhelming majority at a board meeting held on April 19.
“Little change to the high quality theater experience will be noticed by the patrons of the Herb Strauss Schoolhouse Theater,” says Steve Klug. “This consistency of quality comes with the added guarantee that live theater will continue on the island with a stronger financial base, more efficient operations and broader reach to members of BIG ARTS, and island residents and visitors.”
The move will combine the management, marketing, fundraising and volunteer program operations into one collaborative effort making the organizations more efficient and financially stable. Upon approval, assets of The Schoolhouse Foundation will be transferred to BIG ARTS. Klug will join the BIG ARTS board of directors to provide continuity and oversight of the transition of operations at the board level.
“This is a huge plus for our community and for the arts,” says Chuck Bonser, president of the BIG ARTS board of directors. “At a time when non-profit organizations all over the country, particularly the Arts organizations, and even including the public schools Arts programs, are suffering cutbacks and program eliminations, BIG ARTS, The Herb Strauss Schoolhouse Theater, and the Sanibel-Captiva community all owe John and Mary Jo Boler and Steve and Debbie Klug a great debt for their willingness to step forward with these leadership gifts to our citizens and visitors.”
The members of the Schoolhouse Theater Foundation will be sent a letter outlining the proposal this week and members will be asked to vote on the proposed structure change at a special meeting of the members on April 30 at 10 a.m. at The Herb Strauss Schoolhouse Theater.
No immediate changes to staff have been planned during the transition in management, according to BIG ARTS officials. The current members of The Schoolhouse Theater Foundation will become automatic members of BIG ARTS until the annual renewal deadline.
“We welcome broadening our offerings and look forward to the collaboration of our staffs, volunteers and benefactors to make the BIG ARTS programs, and the theater program in particular, as strong as possible,” says BIG ARTS Executive Director Lee Harder. “We look forward to the synergies afforded by this talented group of theater staff, volunteers, actors and artistic director Victor Legarreta.”
About BIG ARTS
BIG ARTS is a 501c3 organization based at 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel Island, Florida. Its mission is to provide quality cultural and educational experiences to the residents of and visitors to Sanibel, Captiva and neighboring communities. From musical concerts, dance performances, family entertainment, visual arts exhibits and programs, writers conferences, lectures series, film society programs and theater productions, BIG ARTS is known as a home for all the arts on Sanibel Island. BIG ARTS is located at 900 Dunlop Road Sanibel, (239) 395-0900, e-mail info@BIGARTS.org, or log on to www.BIGARTS.org.
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Contact
Big Arts
Erika Houser
239-278-3900
www.BIGARTS.org
Erika Houser
239-278-3900
www.BIGARTS.org
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