All Discussions Tagged 'new' - Pittsburgh Jazz Network2024-03-28T16:13:18Zhttps://jazzburgher.ning.com/group/augustwilsoncenter/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=new&feed=yes&xn_auth=noJudge expected to approve August Wilson sale dealtag:jazzburgher.ning.com,2014-10-22:1992552:Topic:3397692014-10-22T00:21:20.931ZDr. Nelson Harrisonhttps://jazzburgher.ning.com/profile/NelsonHarrison
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<h1 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2014/10/20/" rel="bookmark" style="font-size: 13px;" title="9:17 am">Oct 20, 2014</a></h1>
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<h1 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2014/10/20/" title="9:17 am" rel="bookmark" style="font-size: 13px;">Oct 20, 2014</a></h1>
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<div class="post-content"><div class="featured"><div class="featured-thumb featured-landscape"><div id="attachment_69984" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-69984" src="https://ionenewpittsburghcourier.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/august_wilson_center__broa.jpg" alt="August Wilson Center" width="680" height="454"/><p class="wp-caption-text">Buildings in downtown Pittsburgh are reflected in the windows of the August Wilson Center for African American Culture on Oct. 2. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)</p>
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<div class="content-body"><p>PITTSBURGH (AP) – An Allegheny County judge is expected to approve a deal by a consortium of charities to buy Pittsburgh’s August Wilson Center for $8.85 million.</p>
<p>The five-year-old center is named for the late, black Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and Pittsburgh native. But it’s been plagued by financial and attendance problems and was scheduled for a <span class="aBn">Nov. 3</span>sheriff’s sale to satisfy a $7.9 million mortgage default.</p>
<p>Instead, a coalition of charitable foundations plans to close on the center <span class="aBn">Oct. 31</span> and keep it open, but Allegheny County Judge Lawrence O’Toole must first approve terms of the deal <span class="aBn">on Monday</span>.</p>
<p>O’Toole had scheduled a trial to determine whether the charities or a New York developer should be allowed to buy the center to prevent a sheriff’s sale. But the developer, 980 Liberty Partners, withdrew its bid.</p>
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<p></p> Foundations, URA win August Wilson Center disputetag:jazzburgher.ning.com,2014-10-03:1992552:Topic:3388562014-10-03T01:10:17.294ZDr. Nelson Harrisonhttps://jazzburgher.ning.com/profile/NelsonHarrison
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<h1 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2014/10/01" rel="bookmark" style="font-size: 13px;" title="4:20 pm">Oct 1, 2014</a></h1>
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<h1 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2014/10/01" title="4:20 pm" rel="bookmark" style="font-size: 13px;">Oct 1, 2014</a></h1>
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<div class="post-content"><div class="featured"><div class="featured-thumb featured-landscape"><div id="attachment_111878" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-111878" src="https://ionenewpittsburghcourier.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/awcgroup.jpg" alt="AWCgroup" width="680" height="454"/><p class="wp-caption-text">SUPPORTERS—Elated community members representing the arts, education and human services leave Judge Lawrence O’Toole’s court after the foundations and URA win control of the AWC.</p>
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<div class="content-body"><p>An 11th hour—plus 20 minutes—agreement between all the parties has resolved the dispute over ownership of the bankrupt August Wilson Center for African American Culture in favor of the consortium of foundations that sought to prevent hotel development on the center site.</p>
<p>The 980 Partners group, which had previously won tentative approval for its hotel project, with its $9.5 million bid, bowed out prior to a scheduled Sept. 29 trial before Judge Lawrence O’Toole on whether deed covenants prohibited the deal.</p>
<p>“We’ve said all along that preserving the mission of the center was one of our priorities, and in the end this seems to be the best way to help do that for the African-American community and the city,” said 980 Partners principal Matthew Shollar. “We’re disappointed we couldn’t go ahead, but we’ve forged some good relationships and look forward to possibly working together in the future.”</p>
<p>All parties: 980, the foundations, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and the State Attorney General’s Office, court-appointed receiver Judith Fitzgerald and Dollar Bank approved the agreement.</p>
<p>A confidential side-deal was also forged to compensate 980 for the legal, consulting and engineering expenses it incurred since its plan was tentatively approved in the spring.</p>
<p>Though O’Toole’s courtroom was filled to capacity and beyond by representatives of various community and arts organizations—among them Esther Bush, Marimba Milliones, Mark Clayton Southers, Tim Stevens and Janera Solomon—the action took place in the hallway outside and in O’Toole’s chambers as lawyers scurried back and forth to put the finishing touches on the deal.</p>
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<p></p> 980 backs out of AWC sale; Foundations and URA to pay off Dollar Banktag:jazzburgher.ning.com,2014-09-30:1992552:Topic:3387572014-09-30T02:04:54.382ZDr. Nelson Harrisonhttps://jazzburgher.ning.com/profile/NelsonHarrison
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<h1 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2014/09/29/" rel="bookmark" style="font-size: 13px;" title="4:49 pm">Sep 29, 2014</a></h1>
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<h1 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2014/09/29/" title="4:49 pm" rel="bookmark" style="font-size: 13px;">Sep 29, 2014</a></h1>
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<div class="content-body"><p>An 11th hour—plus 20 minutes—agreement between all the parties has resolved the dispute over ownership of the bankrupt August Wilson Center for African American Culture in favor of the consortium of foundations that sought to prevent hotel development on the center site.</p>
<p>The 980 Partners group, which had previously won tentative approval for its hotel project, with its $9.5 million bid, bowed out prior to a scheduled Sept. 29 trial before Judge Lawrence O’Toole on whether deed covenants prohibited the deal.</p>
<p>“We’ve said all along that preserving the mission of the center was one of our priorities, and in the end this seems to be the best way to help do that for the African-American community and the city,” said 980 Partners principal Matthew Shollar.</p>
<p>“We’re disappointed we couldn’t go ahead, but we’ve forged some good relationships and look forward to possible working together in the future.”</p>
<p>All parties: 980, the foundations, the Urban Redevelopment Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County and the State Attorney General’s Office, court-appointed receiver Judith Fitzgerald, and Dollar Bank approved the agreement.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto credits city, Allegheny County and foundation officials for the joint effort to save the center.</p>
<p>The deal would pay mortgage holder Dollar Bank $7.9 million and Fitzgerald and her team $590,000 for a total sales price of $8.49 million. No other creditors, including the URA, would be paid. All tax liens would also be forgiven.</p>
<p>It is not clear where the money will come from as the foundations’ highest bid—already augmented by the URA and unsourced county funds—was $7.2 million, $1.29 million less than the sale price.</p>
<p>The timeline requires the URA to pay the receiver $250,000 within five days and the Pittsburgh Foundation or its designee (NewCo—short for new company) to pay an additional $270,000 by Oct. 31. Should the deal fall through, Dollar Bank could foreclose and sell the center at a November sheriff’s sale.</p>
<p>(More in Wednesday’s print edition.)</p>
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<p></p> Just Sayin’… August Wilson Center: Too little, too latetag:jazzburgher.ning.com,2014-02-07:1992552:Topic:3189372014-02-07T20:12:57.808ZDr. Nelson Harrisonhttps://jazzburgher.ning.com/profile/NelsonHarrison
<h1 class="post-title"><a href="http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2014/02/05/" rel="bookmark" title="4:00 pm">Feb 5, 2014</a></h1>
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<div class="post-content"><div class="featured"><div class="featured-thumb featured-landscape"><div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_56680" style="width: 690px;"><img width="680" height="454" class="size-full wp-image-56680" alt="UlishCarterWeb.jpg" src="http://ionenewpittsburghcourier.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/images_ulishcarterweb.jpg"/><p class="wp-caption-text">ULISH CARTER</p>
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<div class="content-body"><p>The creditors of the August Wilson Center have taken next to the final step of what most of us have known for years in the African American community, and that is it will be put up for sale. The final step will be its sale.</p>
<p>We not only knew it was in serious financial trouble for years, but if something wasn’t done to correct this sinking ship it was going to go under. Yet, nobody stepped forward with a plan backed with money, which has led to the tragedy that now has some people suggesting that Dollar Bank and Judith Fitzgerald, the conservator, are the villains.</p>
<p>In one letter we received, the person implied that Fitzgerald shouldn’t be making as much money as she is and that she shouldn’t get a percentage of the selling price, that it is a conflict of interest. It sounds like these people are asking Dollar Bank to give the Black Arts community the $10 million needed to pay the mortgage and then someone else foot the bill of operating the building, instead of placing the blame where it belongs, the board.</p>
<p>Many are asking Dollar Bank, to wait even longer for their money, which thus far no one is offering. Thus far no one has even offered a plan that demonstrates how he or she would pay for the day-to-day operations even if they did get the mortgage paid.</p>
<p>Dollar Bank has been more than patient. Remember, before the foreclosure was announced they refinanced the building giving management an opportunity to pay them at a lower rate, yet not one single payment was made, according to the bank, yet no one challenged management.</p>
<p>There are a few people out there now howling for the building to be saved, and some are trying to point fingers at the financial institution that gave the loan to build this beautiful building instead of taking a good close look at themselves.</p>
<p>Yes, we the Black community is partly at fault for the failure of the building. First of all we are at fault by not holding those in power, mostly the board, accountable. And second, we are at fault by not supporting the numerous programs staged at this venue. It’s time we stopped expecting everything to be free or near free. Tickets for $15 to $20 is a give away and unless there are underwriters for the events, nothing should be held that doesn’t pay for itself.</p>
<p>Many of us felt like the AWC belonged to the Black community and that they should “give back to the community” instead of us giving to it so it could continue to employ a predominantly African-American staff; that it could continue to have predominately African-American events. But instead how many of us supported the events that cost over $20? I think that each and every one of us should ask ourselves how many events did we pay to attend? And how many of us who could have held an event or meeting there, didn’t?</p>
<p>I think that some of the accusations being made toward the bank and Fitzgerald are cheap shots after the fact. It’s over. We had our chance and we failed. And instead of placing the blame where it lies, we are trying to point at the White man, and in this case the White woman as the villain, when the fault lies clearly at the feet of the board and the original planners who as I stated before, didn’t bother to bring successful business people to the table to make sure this extremely important African-American venture was a success; even if they weren’t Black business people.</p>
<p>One thing I do fault Dollar Bank in is that they did not demand this before they put up the money. Why didn’t they check into the backgrounds of the people proposing this center and demand that they include business people who could present a viable economic plan?</p>
<p>One suggestion has been that the Pittsburgh Public School System purchases the building and makes it an extension of CAPA. The first question that comes to mind is how can PPS afford it when they are struggling to pay their own bills? Well since all students from outside of the city pay big bucks to go there, simply open up more slots for suburban students which may just pay for its self. May is the word.</p>
<p>Like just about everyone else, I wanted this thing to work. I remember I was so proud when the AWC opened for business. We had an editorial board meeting with the then head and his key staff about working together to make sure the Black communities knew exactly what was going on at the center and when. He even had a column in the paper. It was so beautiful for maybe over a year. Then things began to fall apart. People getting laid off, and instead of being replaced their work was passed on to others who were already overloaded, then these people were let go for outside contractors, who were eventually let go with little to no information of what was going on at the center.</p>
<p>So anyone reading the Courier should have known about the problems because we not only wrote stories, I addressed it in my column. But no one stepped forward. Now it’s too little too late. But then again miracles have happened before.</p>
<p><em>(Ulish Carter is the managing editor of the New Pittsburgh Courier.)</em></p>
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<p></p> The August Wilson Center in crisistag:jazzburgher.ning.com,2013-11-16:1992552:Topic:3153312013-11-16T15:50:24.831ZDr. Nelson Harrisonhttps://jazzburgher.ning.com/profile/NelsonHarrison
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<p><em><strong>SAMUEL BLACK</strong></em></p>
<p>For the past couple of years newspaper stories and editorials have commented on the issues facing the August Wilson Center for African American Culture. It has garnered a great deal of conversation among politicians, non-profit professionals,…</p>
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<p><em><strong>SAMUEL BLACK</strong></em></p>
<p>For the past couple of years newspaper stories and editorials have commented on the issues facing the August Wilson Center for African American Culture. It has garnered a great deal of conversation among politicians, non-profit professionals, culturists, activists, columnists, museum professionals, and supporters of the AWC. Its financial and operational issues are serious, complicated and revealing.</p>
<p>For all the positive impact it was having on the cultural landscape underneath it all lie a financial storm linked to its initial capital plan to build a $40 million dollar institution.</p>
<p>Some feel that the AWC was too aggressive to achieve such a high budgeted project—that the waters had not been tested in a region that has plenty of entertainment and cultural attractions to compete with. And still yet there are those who feel that the mission of the AWC was not firmly planted and followed to the letter.</p>
<p>The plan to build a $40 million facility to present African American culture was ambitious for a Pittsburgh audience. I don’t pretend that I am aware of the details of its financial profile but understanding that a $7 million shortfall is not an easy task for any institution to overcome, especially one that is new and trying to develop trust and build relationships with a broad community.</p>
<p>The question had to be asked by the organizers if the region would welcome and support a project that aimed for the top and would require significant financial support to maintain. As we can see the capacity to sustain the AWC is enormous.</p>
<p>As president of the Association of African American Museums I have the opportunity to converse with numerous colleagues about the AWC and other institutions that are suffering some of the same issues. To date the AWC has had five CEO/Directors since it opened its doors in 2009—a four-year period. Anyone in or outside of the cultural non-profit professional can tell you that is an issue. No institution can maintain and grow capacity with that much change at the top in a short period of time.</p>
<p>Generally, it takes at least five years for a CEO to be effective for an established institution let alone a brand new one. That leader would have to put in place their vision and develop relationships with the major players in the region—funders, elected officials, cultural partners, corporations, and the populace.</p>
<p>What we all recognize is the potential asset of the AWC to Pittsburgh’s cultural landscape and would like to see it survive. The reality is that if it does survive a different type of organization may emerge—one that may not appeal so much to the African-American community.</p>
<p><em>(Samuel W. Black is president, Association of African American Museums. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:%20%3Cscript%20type=%27text/javascript%27%3E%20%3C%21--%20var%20prefix%20=%20%27ma%27%20+%20%27il%27%20+%20%27to%27;%20var%20path%20=%20%27hr%27%20+%20%27ef%27%20+%20%27=%27;%20var%20addy51184%20=%20%27black%27%20+%20%27@%27;%20addy51184%20=%20addy51184%20+%20%27blackmuseums%27%20+%20%27.%27%20+%20%27org%27;%20document.write%28%27%3Ca%20%27%20+%20path%20+%20%27%5C%27%27%20+%20prefix%20+%20%27:%27%20+%20addy51184%20+%20%27%5C%27%3E%27%29;%20document.write%28addy51184%29;%20document.write%28%27%3C%5C/a%3E%27%29;%20//--%3E%5Cn%20%3C/script%3E%3Cscript%20type=%27text/javascript%27%3E%20%3C%21--%20document.write%28%27%3Cspan%20style=%5C%27display:%20none;%5C%27%3E%27%29;%20//--%3E%20%3C/script%3EThis%20email%20address%20is%20being%20protected%20from%20spambots.%20You%20need%20JavaScript%20enabled%20to%20view%20it.%20%3Cscript%20type=%27text/javascript%27%3E%20%3C%21--%20document.write%28%27%3C/%27%29;%20document.write%28%27span%3E%27%29;%20//--%3E%20%3C/script%3E."></a><a href="mailto:black@blackmuseums.org">black@blackmuseums.org</a>.)</em></p>
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<p></p> Udin says AWC board should resigntag:jazzburgher.ning.com,2013-11-16:1992552:Topic:3153272013-11-16T15:40:48.990ZDr. Nelson Harrisonhttps://jazzburgher.ning.com/profile/NelsonHarrison
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<dd class="create">Created on Thursday, 14 November 2013 01:03</dd>
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<p><strong><em>SALA UDIN</em></strong></p>
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<p>During a Nov. 9 meeting to discuss possible means to save the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, former co-director and one of its founders Sala Udin admitted the board did not do what was needed to address the center’s financial…</p>
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<dd class="create">Created on Thursday, 14 November 2013 01:03</dd>
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<p><strong><em>SALA UDIN</em></strong></p>
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<p>During a Nov. 9 meeting to discuss possible means to save the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, former co-director and one of its founders Sala Udin admitted the board did not do what was needed to address the center’s financial problems.</p>
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<p>He also called on the entire board of directors to resign, saying it is the only means to restore investor confidence.</p>
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<p>“One of the things we did not do—we did not develop a plan to repay that $11 million. We hoped that the capital development committee would come back because they could raise the big bucks.”</p>
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<p>Udin, is a non-voting board member and cannot compel the others to step down, but said he thought it is the only way to get “the money, the spigot, turned back on.” He thanked Dollar Bank for its patience and along with founding members Oliver Byrd, Yvonne Cook and Nancy Washington, asked supporters to contact the court to have Common Pleas Judge Lawrence O’Toole appoint a conservator to manage and preserve the Center and its mission.</p>
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<p>Dollar Bank has already petitioned the court to have a receiver put in place to maintain and protect the property, and if necessary, prepare it for sale.</p>
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<p>Udin said it was heartening to see so many of the original supporters like Rip Nixon, Cecile Springer, Tim Stevens and others come to express their concerns.</p>
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<p>“There’s still a lot of love and support for this building and its mission,” he said. “If we get a chance to have a transition period, and the time to put together a proposal that solves the centers problems, the bank’s problems and preserves the mission, that period will have to be funded by the foundation community--and they have said they will not give another dime with this board in place.”<br/>A hearing is scheduled for Nov. 18.</p>
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<p><em>(Send comments to <a href="mailto:%20%3Cscript%20type=%27text/javascript%27%3E%20%3C%21--%20var%20prefix%20=%20%27ma%27%20+%20%27il%27%20+%20%27to%27;%20var%20path%20=%20%27hr%27%20+%20%27ef%27%20+%20%27=%27;%20var%20addy5104%20=%20%27cmorrow%27%20+%20%27@%27;%20addy5104%20=%20addy5104%20+%20%27newpittsburghcourier%27%20+%20%27.%27%20+%20%27com%27;%20document.write%28%27%3Ca%20%27%20+%20path%20+%20%27%5C%27%27%20+%20prefix%20+%20%27:%27%20+%20addy5104%20+%20%27%5C%27%3E%27%29;%20document.write%28addy5104%29;%20document.write%28%27%3C%5C/a%3E%27%29;%20//--%3E%5Cn%20%3C/script%3E%3Cscript%20type=%27text/javascript%27%3E%20%3C%21--%20document.write%28%27%3Cspan%20style=%5C%27display:%20none;%5C%27%3E%27%29;%20//--%3E%20%3C/script%3EThis%20email%20address%20is%20being%20protected%20from%20spambots.%20You%20need%20JavaScript%20enabled%20to%20view%20it.%20%3Cscript%20type=%27text/javascript%27%3E%20%3C%21--%20document.write%28%27%3C/%27%29;%20document.write%28%27span%3E%27%29;%20//--%3E%20%3C/script%3E."></a><a href="mailto:cmorrow@newpittsburghcourier.com">cmorrow@newpittsburghcourier.com</a>.)</em></p>
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<p> </p> Is poor financial planning behind AWC’s current situation?tag:jazzburgher.ning.com,2013-10-31:1992552:Topic:3129452013-10-31T21:08:40.822ZDr. Nelson Harrisonhttps://jazzburgher.ning.com/profile/NelsonHarrison
<div id="gkBreadcrumbMainbody"><div><div id="gkTools"><a href="http://www.newpittsburghcourieronline.com/index.php/opinion/19122-is-poor-financial-planning-behind-awc-s-current-situation#" id="gkToolsInc" name="gkToolsInc"></a>Published on Thursday, 31 October 2013 01:01</div>
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<dd class="createdby">Written by Ulish Carter - Courier Managing Editor</dd>
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<p><strong><em>ULISH…</em></strong></p>
<div id="gkBreadcrumbMainbody"><div><div id="gkTools"><a href="http://www.newpittsburghcourieronline.com/index.php/opinion/19122-is-poor-financial-planning-behind-awc-s-current-situation#" id="gkToolsInc" name="gkToolsInc"></a>Published on Thursday, 31 October 2013 01:01</div>
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<dd class="createdby">Written by Ulish Carter - Courier Managing Editor</dd>
<dd class="hits">Hits: 214</dd>
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<p><strong><em>ULISH CARTER</em></strong></p>
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<p>What good is a goal or vision or a dream without the capital to support it?</p>
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<p>The August Wilson for African American Culture was a beautiful dream. It was a great idea. It was a magnificent vision. But did anyone even think about how much capital, funding, money it was going to take to build this beautiful building, as well as run it after it was built. Did they have any business people, accountants or just someone with some common sense as a part of the decision makers?</p>
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<p>I’m finding it extremely hard to understand why the funding of this building was not dealt with before it was built. It’s fundamental. Before you buy a house, car, furniture of even clothes you must figure out how you are going to pay for it. Yes we all would like to have a Mercedes, Cadillac, or a $500,000 home with the swimming pool but before we go out and make the purchase we have to look at our income. Can I afford that $1500 plus mortgage, can I afford the $500 monthly car payment? If I can’t where does the money come from? One thing is always constant. If you can’t pay your bills the bank has no problem taking what you thought was yours, and you end up with nothing because you bit off more than you could chew. You should have settled for a less expensive car, or house.</p>
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<p>Why wasn’t somebody dealing with this when the planning for the AWC began, before a single brick was laid?</p>
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<p>It’s obvious none of this was done. You had a bunch of activists and idealists leading the charge for this beautiful building and others followed without a practical thought of where the money would come from?</p>
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<p>The building was built to look good, but not be practical. The largest seating capacity is just 300 people. Now what can you possibly bring in that’s going to pay the mortgage, let alone utilities, and payroll with just 300 seats? Artists, musicians, actors, dancers all have to be paid; they have to eat just like everyone else. Then add to the low prices they were charging and all the free activities, it didn’t make sense.</p>
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<p>Black people need to realize that just like we expect to be paid for our work so does everyone else. All this wanting something for nothing has to end. I understand that we in the urban communities don’t make as much money as most of our White counterparts in the suburbs, but we have money for alcohol, cigarettes, drugs and name brand clothes. Why aren’t we willing to pay for entertainment?</p>
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<p>We have enough Black people making money to support a less expensive cultural center, but how many of us are into the arts? But even if a business mind had been brought in I don’t think anything could have saved the AWC, short of remodeling it on the inside to accommodate larger crowds, as well as maybe finding a way to get more businesses using it during the day. During the day it’s mostly vacant because people are at work, this way these small 300 people or less rooms would work for meetings. And maybe use the outer halls facing the streets with the glass fronts as a restaurant for the lunch crowd, with food being catered in, or install a kitchen. It’s a beautiful scenic area.</p>
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<p>Unless someone comes up with a way for this building to pay for itself I can’t see anyone investing in it as it is now. Even if a foundation or some super rich person paid the mortgage it would be right back in debt in a year or two because they wouldn’t be making enough money to cover the expenses.</p>
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<p>It has very little to do with bad management, the building was not designed to make money. It was designed to look pretty. It needs foundation sponsorship, but there’s no foundation I can see in sight willing to foot the bill.</p>
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<p>Many people are blaming the Black community for their lack of support. It wouldn’t matter because even with Black support it would have failed. And why Downtown which is the most expensive place to build anything? And the parking is outrageous during the day and still expensive at night, compared to free parking outside of Downtown. That’s why people shop in the suburbs or in communities instead of Downtown. </p>
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<p>In the early days of the AWC there was no lack of great shows, and programs going on that received all the support the community could give based on the small areas provided. Music, dance, theater, community meetings, poetry, you name it. It was hard for this newspaper to cover it so much was going on. The programming was good, and the attendance was good. No there weren’t packed houses all the time, but even if there had been the problem would have occurred later instead of sooner. </p>
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<p>No this failure is not something we can pin on the Black community for the lack of support to a Black establishment. This blame falls squarely on the people who planned the design of this building, with no idea of how they were going to pay for it. It sounds and appears like they allowed artists to make all the decisions, with no input from the finance department.</p>
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<p><em>(Ulish Carter is the managing editor of the New Pittsburgh Courier.)</em></p> August Wilson Center CEO says closing rumors aren’t truetag:jazzburgher.ning.com,2013-05-26:1992552:Topic:2922762013-05-26T05:44:06.371ZDr. Nelson Harrisonhttps://jazzburgher.ning.com/profile/NelsonHarrison
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<dd class="published">Published on Wednesday, 15 May 2013 09:24</dd>
<dd class="createdby">Written by <a href="http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/index.php/component/contact/contact/15">Rebecca Nuttall - Courier Staff Writer…</a></dd>
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<dd class="published">Published on Wednesday, 15 May 2013 09:24</dd>
<dd class="createdby">Written by <a href="http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/index.php/component/contact/contact/15">Rebecca Nuttall - Courier Staff Writer</a></dd>
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<p><strong>OLIVER BYRD</strong></p>
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<p><strong>AUGUST WILSON CENTER IN DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH</strong></p>
<p>Last week the New Pittsburgh Courier received word that the August Wilson Center for African American Culture would be closing its doors on May 30 due to financial difficulties. When news broke on May 10 of massive layoffs at the Center, it seemed the rumors could be true, but the Center’s interim president and CEO Oliver Byrd said the Pittsburgh community shouldn’t count the AWC out yet.</p>
<p>“The rumor is completely unfounded, no merit to it whatsoever,” he said in an interview with the Courier May 13 hoping to set the record straight. “What’s happening is after four years of being in the building the board is looking at what’s working and what’s not working and to look at how we have to recast the business model to ensure the Center stays around for a long time.”</p>
<p>The $40 million AWC was opened in 2009 with $11.2 million construction debt. The debt was reduced to $7 million in January with help from foundation grants, which have long made up the base of the AWC’s funding.</p>
<p>The center is now behind with loans payments on the $7 million debt and despite Byrd’s optimism, 10 members of the AWC staff lost their jobs on Friday.</p>
<p>“Given the escalating expenses and the imbalance between the expenses and our revenue, we had to lay off some employees. I think the media has focused on the layoffs and we’re always disappointed when we have to lay people off, but with the appropriate course corrections, I think it’ll be healthy for us in the long run.”</p>
<p>Part of those course corrections will include bringing in more revenue by reducing the amount of free programming. Byrd also said the AWC is looking at other avenues for telling the stories of African-American people, beyond the arts, as a way to increase revenue.</p>
<p>“The marketplace will have to pay for the programming that’s offered,” Byrd said. “There will still be a big mix between free programming and ticketed programming because it’s part of our mission, but we need to have a better mix of contributed revenue.” <br/>In April the AWC announced the inclusion of five new fellows in their 2012-2013 fellowship program. Byrd said their First Voice Festival debut set for May 17 to 25 would continue as planned.</p>
<p>“A lot of what we do at the AWC has been looked at positively not just locally but nationally. So we’re very proud of the quality of programming that we’ve been putting out there,” Byrd said. “Very often when you’re looking at the financial reality that we’re dealing with, those kinds of stories get lost. But we’re not at all dissimilar from other arts institutions at this stage.”</p>
<p>However, he also noted that some contributions originally promised during the capital campaign for construction of the facility were not honored. This could be a contributing factor to the AWC’s current financial situation.</p>
<p>Byrd is filling in for Andre Kimo Stone Guess, former AWC executive director who departed in September 2012. Byrd said the board has delayed their search for a new executive director, but plans to commence the search within three to six months.</p>
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