Collaboration

When early discussions about an "Endowed Programs in the Arts" began, it was noted that the high school auditorium was planned to seat 750 and include classroom spaces. With a limited construction budget, however, the facility would be a modest, cinder block building with average acoustics at best and few upgrades in terms of equipment, rehearsal spaces or performance capabilities.

In considering whether or not a lecture series and master classes featuring renowned intellectuals, artists and leaders could be supported through private endowments, several questions surfaced:

• Could this auditorium serve as venue for guest lecturers and artists in addition to serving as a school facility?
• Could these lectures and "artist in residence" visits enrich the school curriculum for all students?
• Could this auditorium serve community uses as well as school uses?
• Could private money be raised to enhance the quality of the facility?

Concurrent to these discussions, varying levels of discussion had occurred with Village of New Albany and Plain Township officials regarding a future "community center" or "senior center" being built to accommodate community needs and uses.

Through joint discussions initiated by the Superintendent of the School District and convened by the New Albany Community Foundation, it seemed logical to community leaders that perhaps the school district, the village, the township and the private sector could leverage resources and build one, higher quality facility that could serve both school and community needs. At the very least, the potential benefit and savings to the community merited some investigation and research to determine if such collaboration were feasible.