Following an extended executive session, The Woodlands Township board members voted Nov. 20 to begin a Phase 2 study for a Performing Arts Center in The Woodlands.
The details
Board members approved a contract with AMS Planning and Research, a consulting firm that specializes in performing arts and culture centers in communities. Township President and CEO Monique Sharp said the study would cost $43,090 to complete, but it would provide a cost analysis for the construction and operation of a performing arts center.
A number of community members and local arts leaders also spoke at the meeting, asking the board to continue to push the project forward.
In their words
“The arts offer a space for self expression, personal growth and achievement, whether through music, theater, dance, literature or visual arts. The arts help to shape identities and open doors for future success, whether we’re talking about children or adults, [and] not everyone has access to a supportive community,” said Matt Everett, founder of The Woodlands Diversion, an arts-related nonprofit. “Many face challenges at home and lack a safe place to nurture their creativity. A performing arts center in The Woodlands would change this.”
“It’s interesting that while we rehearse [in The Woodlands] quite a bit, and many of our dancers live here in The Woodlands, I have to bypass The Woodlands to go to the Hobby Center,” said Andy Noble, co-artistic director for NobleMotion Dance company. “I think you would find organizations such as mine that would want to come here, perform here, and dedicate our time here, and might even move here full time.”
“One of the biggest challenges that we’ve had is finding performance space,” said Glenn Turlich, president of Class Act Productions, a nonprofit theater company. “We do need a state of the art performing arts center for organizations just like ourselves.”
Stay tuned
Board Chair Brad Bailey said the study would take around 12 weeks to complete, and the results will be presented to the board and the community to evaluate future steps in the project.