Our 51 year old community theatre is negotiating a lease with a city owned performing arts center.  The vision was that the performing arts center would be the "home" of the community theatre as well as a presenting organization that brings in other events and programs.  Are there other community theatres out there who have had to negotiatie this kind of "partnership"?  If so, would you please share with us the major issues you had to include and resolve in your lease negotiations?

Our city has tried to wrap our CT into a community arts center numerous times over the past 15 years and we have declined each and every time.  One of our biggest concers is our autonomy.  As soon as you join an arts center you give up sections of control over your group.  I have seen it with two of the local cts in our area.  They were used for leg work and PR (and their patron list) to promote the new venue and were soon pushed to the back burner once the venue was up and running.  Their stage time is seriously limited.  Their artistic vision is hindered (what type of shows can be produced).  Where they once had whole control of their independent self, they soon became the red-headed step child of a much larger parent organization.  My suggestion would be to look for outside space before selling off the soul of your group to a business (OK, maybe that was a bit harsh, but there is passion in my concern).

A CT I have worked with also walked away from such an offer.  Once we met with them and found out all the little details (we'd have to change our name to reflect their property; we'd be employeed by them;  they'd have the final say in our work; etc.) we walked out the door.  They simply wanted our reputation and our member list.