Sandy Springs Wants Input From Arts, Theatre Groups on Performing Arts Facility

Staff Report

The city of Sandy Springs is seeking input from directors for arts organizations, theater, dance groups, music promoters, visual arts organizations and youth and business programming to participate in an interactive charrette, which will take place next month.

The charrette is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 7 at Heritage Sandy Springs, which is located at 6110 Bluestone Road.

The charrette is intended to gain feedback from these groups on their organization’s potential uses for the city’s performing arts facility, including how the variety of programming uses will impact an annual calendar, amenities needs, back of house requirements and seating.

Rick Davis, executive director of the George Mason University Hylton Performing Arts Center, a multi-use facility in Manassas, Virginia, will facilitate the session. Davis joined George Mason University in 1991 as artistic director of Theater of the First Amendment and a member of the theater faculty, producing dozens of world premier productions.

In 2011, he was named executive director of Mason’s new, 1,200-seat Hylton Performing Arts Center, a state-of-the-art venue with multiple performance and exhibition spaces presenting touring artists as well as many resident arts organizations, civic events, business functions and educational activities.

“The workshop is designed to hone our strategy for the performing arts center and associated community meeting space,” said Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul. “ We want to ensure we fully understand how the ultimate users — our local civic, community arts and similar groups — expect to use the facility, so we can fine tune the design for those uses.”

Registration for the charrette is requested and organizations can RSVP on the city center’s website.

The sessions are organized by business and performance categories, and times for the sessions will be emailed to those registered.

The city launched an online survey for community feedback on desired programming events on Sept. 11, which will remain open for feedback until Oct. 3.

Based on the charrette, analysis of survey data and additional research from industry experts, the City Center planning team will provide recommendations to the Sandy Springs City Council on a programming strategy.

The Sandy Springs City Council approved a site development plan for the City Center on Sept. 2, which includes office space to house government services, green space, residential and retail areas, in addition to meeting space and a performing arts center.

(Photo credit: Patch file)