Most theater funding coming from community

By Mason Hulen
Published: May 3, 2008

Questions continue to be raised locally about the Wayne Theatre project. City investment in the project is characterized as “pouring taxpayer money into a special interest group.” The News Virginian pleads for downtown vision, for economic development and for action, not studies. At the recent candidates forum in Staunton, every Staunton City Council candidate publicly acknowledged the important role that arts and theater play in attracting visitors to their downtown.
The Wayne Theatre Alliance, after eight years of work, offers the only project by anyone of a timely downtown development. Ultimately, the city of Waynesboro will have a $7 million building with less than 15 percent city investment.
The alliance is made up of many volunteers who have contributed their own money and hundreds of hours of time and physical labor. As a group, they have developed and moved a vision to the point where it will actually happen as long as the city honors its commitment. Without the city’s backing, there may be no bank financing, construction contract or renovation.
The alliance now has commitments for more than $5 million, not counting the city’s contribution. Three weeks ago, the alliance passed the $2 million mark of private funding raised by our committees and board members. The donor list for the Wayne Theatre is made up of many private individuals, but a very large segment of the pledges are from the local business community and business owners. The business people who support the theater are not politicians. They astutely believe that the project will work (just as it has in communities all over the country), that other development will follow and that the city will recoup its financial investment many times over.
Do our citizens want a $7 million, state-of-the-art performing arts center for our entire community? Or do they want to see the project killed and $200,000 to $300,000 in taxpayer dollars be used to demolish it and turn it into a parking lot? If we don’t use the grants and credits that have been secured, state and federal tax money will go elsewhere. Can we not all take pride in a wonderful civic effort to revitalize our downtown? The Wayne Theatre will provide economic benefits, improve educational opportunities for our children and will enhance the quality of life for all our citizens.
Mason Hulen, of Waynesboro, is a retired businessman and Wayne Theatre Alliance board member.