The Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel is announcing its intention to seek its first-ever corporate naming partner. This comes as the nonprofit educational, arts and cultural organization approaches its 10-year anniversary and has proven to be an indispensable asset to economic development and the quality of life in Central Indiana and beyond.
The Center is interested in identifying the right partner, with a shared vision of advancing the arts and educational programming, unifying the community and extending the Center’s impact. The naming rights campaign stems from a strategic planning process undertaken by the Center’s staff and Board of Directors – a group of strategic, well-respected community leaders. IEG, a leading sponsorship consultancy, conducted an independent analysis of the naming assets to help guide the Center.
Jeffrey C. McDermott, President/CEO of the Center for the Performing Arts (who previously served as a Center board member from 2010 to 2016) explains, “We’ve experienced an incredible first 10 years as a nonprofit organization and have never been in a better position to offer this type of value in a corporate partnership. The organization is on solid footing with a world-class team, and the next step is to seek a corporate partner with a shared mission of supporting the arts, culture and education, and the ability to help us extend the reach of the important work we do. It is our responsibility to diversify our base of support as much as possible.”
Melissa Stapleton-Barnes, the Center for the Performing Arts Board Chair, said, “People know us for the national and international shows and talent, and the beauty and boldness of our campus, but what they may not realize is that the Center offers so much more – a robust schedule of multi-generational educational and experiential programming, from preschool music camps to dance instruction, book clubs to stand-up comedy lessons. A naming rights partner will allow the Center to enhance its educational programming and build its endowment. This will help extend access to the arts in the present but also promises to help sustain this community asset for the future.”
IEG’s analysis of the naming assets for the Center involved a review of multiple sectors, brands, opportunities and sponsorship vehicles across the country.
Peter Laatz, Global Managing Director of IEG, said, “This is a very innovative move for the Center. The performing arts is an area where we see companies wanting to invest as they look to diversify beyond sports and become a more engaged partner in a thriving community. Just a handful of other performing arts centers of this caliber in the U.S. have a dedicated corporate naming partner, so this really speaks to the Center’s partnership acumen and vision.”
The Center for the Performing Arts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit educational, arts and cultural organization, managing a world-class performing arts campus that includes three venues:
- The Palladium, a 1,600-seat concert hall
- The Tarkington, a 500-seat proscenium theater
- The Studio Theater, a black-box theater
The Center provides rent-free space, ticketing, ushers, security and support services for six independent resident companies representing theatre, dance and classical music:
- Actors Theatre of Indiana
- Carmel Symphony Orchestra
- Central Indiana Dance Ensemble
- Civic Theatre
- Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre
- Indiana Wind Symphony
The Center’s own programming includes the annual Center Presents performance season, with approximately 50 performances each year in a wide range of musical and entertainment genres. The campus is home to the affiliated Great American Songbook Foundation.
Performances, classes and other arts-related activities at the Center now draw more than 300,000 patrons each year. Since opening, the Center has attracted nearly 900,000 ticketed patrons from all 92 Indiana counties, all 50 states and 25 nations. Other public events such as the Carmel Farmers Market and the city’s holiday Christkindlmarkt bring thousands of additional visitors to the campus.
For more information, visit thecenterpresents.org.