A LETTER FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
FOR THE GREENWICH CENTER FOR THE ARTS
December 2008
To all of you who have followed the progress of Greenwich Center for the Arts, we are saddened to share this final update with you. For those who are not yet aware, the GCA board has come to the regrettable, but necessary decision that the time has come to wind down our efforts to build a multi-arts center for all of Greenwich in the historic Havemeyer Building. The reasons that led to this decision are detailed in the statement below that we shared through the media. We want to be sure that you receive it from us as well.
To the many of you who have supported our efforts, we sincerely thank you. Whether you wrote a testimonial or letter-to-the-editor, signed a petition, passed along board updates or the GCA website address, attended artistic brainstorming sessions, the educational forum or the "Day in the Life of GCA" event, or volunteered your professional or business services, you were part of a grassroots effort to enhance our community. Looking forward, we hope you will continue to support the arts in Greenwich and the much-needed preservation of the Havemeyer Building - as we all intend to do.
GCA Statement to the Media
With great regret, after five years of research, planning, fundraising, outreach, and working with Town officials and other key organizations, the board of directors of Greenwich Center for the Arts has come to the unavoidable conclusion that it must now wind down its efforts to create a center for all the arts in the historic Havemeyer Building. We see no clear path to continuing our efforts at this time based on:
· a realistic analysis of town priorities for the foreseeable future
· the lack of a Board of Education decision regarding their space needs and plans
· the absence of a process through which our proposal might be reasonably and officially
considered.
As volunteers with a passionate vision to create an artistic and educational gem in the heart of downtown, we are tremendously disappointed that this vision, which would have offered opportunities for enrichment to every child, adult and senior in Greenwich, will not become a reality.
We want to be very clear that this decision is not driven by finances. Rarely has a concept of this scope - a $35 million gift to the citizens of Greenwich - received commitments for close to half the needed funding while still awaiting RTM approval. Our generous donors have not wavered, but we recognize that there are many worthy pursuits that our contributors can support and we do not feel that we can justifiably hold onto these commitments without any sign of forward movement.
The GCA board continues to believe that we put forth an exceptional proposal and an implementation plan endorsed by leaders of major arts organizations and business consultants. The plan had every potential for success, creating a win/win/win for the Town, local arts organizations and Greenwich residents. Beyond a $35 million gift to the Town, a $1 annual lease for the Center for the Arts would have also saved the Town a minimum of $12 million in renovation costs for the Havemeyer Building and $500,000 per year in maintenance expense.
At this time, we offer our deepest thanks to the thousands who supported this effort -- including individuals, businesses, arts organizations, experts in many fields, government officials, private donors, foundations and members of the media. The conviction of so many interested and forward thinking people inspired us to pursue our goal for these past 5 years.
It is our fervent hope that, one day, local arts groups will finally have an appropriate home and Greenwich will have a multi-arts center -- a key missing element to its many fine amenities. As individuals, the members of the board of directors of the Greenwich Center for the Arts pledge to remain stalwart advocates for the arts in Greenwich, for the historic Havemeyer building and its much needed renewal, and for the revitalization of downtown Greenwich as a destination for the entire community.
Sincerely,
The Greenwich Center for the Arts Board of Directors
Chairman & President: Marv Berenblum
Vice Chairmen: Bea Crumbine, Peter Malkin
Treasurer: Betsy Mulcare
Secretary: FiFi Sheridan
Directors: Stuart Adelberg, Mary Corson, Mary Himes, Pam Jennings, Christine Owens, Emily Ragsdale, Creighton Reed, Heidi Smith
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