Johns Creek Legacy Center Announces New Website

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – The Legacy Center of Johns Creek announced the launch of its new website –jclegacyarts.org – to provide residents and supporters with the latest updates and information about plans for an 83,000-square-foot multi-discipline, multi-use community center for arts and culture in Johns Creek.

Legacy Center of Johns Creek Task Force Chairman J. Wayne Baughman says the facility is envisioned as an arts center designed to be used not only as a comprehensive cultural arts venue, but a place for community, social and business events.

This goal is reflected in the website’s tagline, which is “Building Johns Creek’s Gathering Place.” Also launched were Facebook and Instagram social media pages.

Baughman said, “It will not only be a place for the community to enjoy and participate in the complete spectrum of the arts: music, dance, visual arts and theater. It is envisioned to be a strong economic driver for both the arts and the greater community of Johns Creek.” Baughman is the founder and music director of the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra.

With the help of Fulton County Commissioner Liz Hausmann, the county has already generously supported the project with a $250,000 arts grant that is being used as seed money.

Local political leaders, arts experts and community volunteers make up the 21-member, blue-ribbon task force. While fundraising and sponsorship recruitment was scheduled to begin in earnest this year, the coronavirus pandemic has slowed development. The task force is beginning to ramp up efforts, one of which was the launching of the website and social media. Another goal is to secure some level of financial support from the City of Johns Creek.

“Many community and government leaders consider the Legacy Center to be a top priority and potential anchor in the development of a city center for Johns Creek,” Baughman noted. The task force considers the area around the Johns Creek City Hall as one of the optimum locations.

The proposed Legacy Center would include:

· A well-equipped, professional performance space with seating for 700-plus

· A large rehearsal/banquet/meeting room designed to provide a constant stream of income

· A new, fully equipped home for the Johns Creek Arts Center

· Gallery space in the lobby and office/support spaces

“These amenities do not currently exist in the Johns Creek area and several independent studies have confirmed that they would be well-supported by the residents and businesses in and near Johns Creek,” Baughman said. The task force commissioned a lengthy study of community and arts leaders about the feasibility and support of building the center, below.

Envisioned as a hub of activity, the Legacy Center will support community gatherings, social and business events, plus a wide range of local and touring concerts and shows.

“But, at its heart, it will be a place for creating, exhibiting, rehearsing, performing and teaching the arts and culture by and for the citizens of Johns Creek,” Baughman said. “For more information about the arts center and to keep abreast of its progress, or become a participant, please visit jclegacyarts.org.”

The Legacy Center of Johns Creek
Financial Feasibility Study: Findings and Recommendations
A Brief Summary

This study, a financial feasibility analysis conducted by Convergent Nonprofit Solutions, and the three preceding related studies, present a clear mandate of need in Johns Creek: a need for a multi-discipline cultural arts home for our local burgeoning arts community, a need for a community gathering place, a need for an additional significant economic driver to stimulate and expand local business, and a much-needed anchor for a Johns Creek town center.

Executive Summary

There is currently not enough support to launch a successful financial campaign for privately funding the Legacy Center project. For the project to succeed, the City of Johns Creek must take the lead and provide significant financial resources.

· Interviewees in this study are nearly unanimous in their belief that the arts are an essential component of Johns Creek’s quality of life.

· The vast majority of interviewees believe that a public-private funding partnership is necessary.

· The most important elements in the proposed Legacy Center are the space for the Johns Creek Arts Center and the theater with seating for 700-plus patrons and appropriate amenities.

· The Chinese-American and Indian-American dance academies believe the recommended theater size is approximately half of what is needed.

· The lack of a significant corporate presence in the city means the typical resources donated for this kind of project would be scarce, placing a disproportionate financial burden on private citizens to fund a capital campaign.

Background and Methodology

An extensive study of the activities and needs of the cultural arts community by a Cultural Arts Alliance at Johns Creek volunteer subcommittee was concluded in July 2017. This was followed by a professional needs assessment conducted by Webb Management Services. Among other findings, Webb cited the following elements as necessary for a successful campaign;

· The City of Johns Creek is a partner in the project.

· Campaign leadership includes representatives of the Asian and Southeast Asian communities.

· There is a robust corporate component that engages local companies.

· The Johns Creek Arts Center is part of the project as a successful and growing arts education organization.

The Fulton County Board of Commissioners provided significant funding for a capital campaign feasibility study in their 2019 budget.

The Steering Committee that worked with Webb Management was expanded from five to fifteen members in March 2019 and became the Legacy Center Task Force, currently with 20 members.

How the Study was Compiled

In July 2019 the Task Force contracted with Convergent Nonprofit Solutions to conduct a feasibility study for a capital campaign. Convergent and Task Force teams developed a draft prospectus describing the project and an Interview Request Letter. Lists of potential interviewees were compiled by the Task Force and Convergent. In addition to individuals recommended by the Task Force, additional names were found by searching several national wealth screening data bases. The result was a list of 185 potential interviewees.

Between Nov.18, 2019, and Jan. 10, 2020, Convergent’s team conducted 48 confidential interviews with 50 individuals. Each interviewee was asked to complete a questionnaire and answer a series of questions.

About the Interviews

Eleven “potential investor” categories were identified. The largest categories were Government, 22%; Nonprofit, 15%; and Healthcare, 7%. The category “other” represented 33% of the interviewees, made up largely of retirees.

Convergent’s Fundraising Fundamental Principles

· Compelling need and sense of urgency

· Effective plan to meet the need

· Organizational effectiveness and fundraising strength

· The constituency has adequate financial resources

· Potential campaign leaders available, interested, and committed

Detailed Summary and Analysis

Interviewees’ responses to 17 questions were collected and analyzed (pp. 9-38). The format of the bulk of the report consists of: question, analysis and quotes from interviewees. The report contains a total of 258 quotes expressing a wide range of opinions. While a vast majority of interviewees support the concept of the Legacy Center and rank it as a high civic priority, most agree that the City of Johns Creek must make a substantial financial investment in order for the project to succeed.

Recommendations

Using Convergent’s Fundraising Fundamental Principles as a measure of potential for success, the study concludes that none of the five principles are present at a high enough level to recommend that a capital campaign be launched at this time.

Favorable Factors

· Healthy level of support.

· Nearly unanimous agreement among interviewees that the Legacy Center, built with a public/private partnership would become an important “anchor” in the future town center.

The Convergent team presented the final report to the Legacy Center Task Force on Feb. 18. Unfortunately, the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the Task Force from conducting an extensive review in a timely manner. This brief summary and the full text of the Analysis is available on our website, www.jclegacyarts.org.

Media contacts
Ron Cioffi, KRC Communications, cioffiron@gmail.com, 770.378.7856
Hatcher Hurd, hatcher4530@gmail.com, 770.712.3700