The City of St. Petersburg-owned Mahaffey Theater has been a rudderless ship since businessman Bill Edwards terminated his management contract in May. Remaining staff at the 61-year-old, 2,000-seat performing arts venue have been taking care of daily business, and booking performances.<\/p>\n
St. Pete City Council members know that something\u2019s got to give, as the venue requires a dedicated, full-time custodian. Over and above the City\u2019s $754,000 yearly allotment for the Mahaffey, the building requires cosmetic and technical repairs.<\/p>\n
During Thursday\u2019s Committee of the Whole meeting, City Administrator Rob Gerdes said St. Petersburg has been in discussions with The Florida Orchestra, the theater\u2019s largest client, to \u201cmanage the facility with an outside partner. We\u2019re working through the details of that right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Currently, the City helps fund the orchestra, which performs October through May at the Mahaffey and at venues in Clearwater and Tampa \u2013 through arts grants and rent abatement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe feel like we\u2019ve come to a really good place with The Florida Orchestra,\u201d Gerdes said. Although legalities and contracts have to be worked out, he added, before a proposal can be brought to the full Council. \u201cI\u2019m hopeful at it would be three to five months. I\u2019m hopeful we\u2019re close.\u201d<\/p>\n
A key component, he explained, is \u201creducing our subsidies.\u201d<\/p>\n
After Edwards and his Big3 Entertainment pulled out, the City issued an RFP (Request For Proposal) to solicit potential new management.<\/p>\n
Only one response was received, which Gerdes said was \u201cdisappointing.\u201d The lone applicant was rejected.<\/p>\n
Ignacio Barr\u00f3n Viela, CEO of The Florida Orchestra, confirmed the potential partnership. \u201cThis is an exciting opportunity for The Florida Orchestra, but also for the community,\u201d Barr\u00f3n Viela told the Catalyst. <\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cBecause of the strong local arts scene, we\u2019re looking forward to continuing conversations on how the Mahaffey can become an even stronger home for the arts community. We want to reflect the creativity and the diversity of our entire region.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bringing in a \u201ccontracted event management company to bring major acts to the Mahaffey\u201d would allow The Florida Orchestra to focus on supporting local arts organizations.<\/p>\n
Becoming the theater\u2019s primary operator, he stressed, would not change the orchestra\u2019s commitment to performing in other venues throughout the Tampa Bay area.<\/p>\n
Still to be decided is if, where and when the orchestra will receive a \u201cpermanent home\u201d for rehearsals, offices, community events and smaller performances.<\/p>\n
In 2022, Barr\u00f3n Viela proposed a 24,000-32,000 square foot building, to be constructed in one of the Mahaffey\u2019s unused parking lots. That never materialized, but, he said, \u201cOur reason for a permanent home for the orchestra has not changed. Those needs have not changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would like that home to be in St. Petersburg, the City of the Arts. And we continue to move forward with that vision.\u201d<\/p>\n
That doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that the $30 million Center for Music Education and Innovation, as it\u2019s provisionally known, would be constructed on the Mahaffey site.<\/p>\n
\u201cOperating as the manager of the Mahaffey does not change our vision for a Center for Music Education and Innovation,\u201d Baron-Viela explained. \u201cBut it\u2019s a really positive step forward towards the larger vision that we\u2019d like to fulfill.\u201d<\/p>\n