By Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 reporter
Dallas, TX – [Music: Puccini's "Nessun Dorma," sung by Luciano Pavarotti]
Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 reporter: In the past, when Luciano Pavarotti and other world-class artists came to town, they performed at Reunion Arena, Fair Park Music Hall, and onstage at the Meyerson Symphony Center. Bill Lively says these venues weren't designed to accommodate the full spectrum of performing arts.
Bill Lively, President and CEO, Center for the Performing Arts Foundation: The center is being designed to bring to Dallas world class performances of musical theater, of opera, ballet and other forms of dance and all kinds of theatrical experiences.
Zeeble: Bill Lively is President and CEO of the Center for the Performing Arts Foundation, the lead organization pushing the arts bonds. Item number 5 includes $11 million to help pay for the center's land, design, and infrastructure. That's just 8% of the center's final cost.
Lively: This bond package addresses many things that are essential to the future of Dallas. Everything from streets and roads to firehouses to policeman and parks, but also culture. And great cities, great places to live, are cultured. Because culture is civilizing.
Zeeble: Culture can also mean hard income, says Lively, whose campaign slogan is "The Arts Mean Business."
Lively: Once opened in 2009, the center will infuse $170 million a year into the economy that's not there now. And create up to 2000 new jobs.
Zeeble: So some public funding would be a good investment for the city, according to Dallas City Councilperson Veletta Lill. But she also knows the bond items' failure would just delay, not kill construction off the performing arts center, since most of it is being paid for with private money.
Veletta Lill, Dallas City Council Member: It's about leveraging. What we're all looking for is a partnership. That's important. We like to see a partnership between the public and private sector. Because that shows we all believe in the arts.
Zeeble: In the current tough economic climate though, in a region hit hard by recent layoffs, believing in the arts may not be enough for the arts bonds to pass. Proposition 12 includes $17.5 million to fund arts facilities for groups like the Dallas Black Dance Theater, and facilities such as The Latino Cultural Arts Center and the South Dallas Cultural Center. All of them might be deserving, says North Dallas resident Arthur Ingalls, who voted early. But he contends, now is not the time to approve the bonds.
Arthur Ingalls, early voter: Because of our financial situation, if things were doing well, we had lots of money in the treasury, I'd say fine. But because of the economic situation, and the way the money is, that's something that would be nice to have, but is not necessary.
Zeeble: Pam Davidson voted differently.
Pam Davidson, early voter: I think it's time we all just said we're a part of this community and let's just dig a little deeper in our pockets and let's make it the best it can be. It will only attract more people and more businesses to increase the tax base and I just think it's the thing to do.
Zeeble: Dallasites can vote early at designated polling places through April 29th. Election day is Saturday, May 3rd. For KERA 90.1 I'm Bill Zeeble.
Email Bill Zeeble about this story.