The McCoy Center Enters Management Agreement with CAPA

The board of the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts in New Albany voted to enter into a management agreement with the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) to provide management and back office services including theatre operations, programming, ticketing, IT, and financial services.

With the contract of Interim Executive Director Michael Morris expiring on December 31, 2012, the McCoy Center board began an executive director search, also considering CAPA as an option to fulfill the duties required of that position. CAPA's shared services model, its ability to leverage relationships with talent representatives nationally, and its expertise in performing arts marketing made it an appealing partner. At the conclusion of the evaluation, the McCoy board unanimously elected to engage CAPA to manage the 786-seat, New Albany venue which opened in 2008.

"As the conversations progressed, it became clear that CAPA's arts expertise and national reputation would enable the McCoy to provide exceptional services to our patrons while utilizing our financial resources with cost efficiency," said David Martin, Chair of the McCoy Center Board of Trustees. "Instead of employing one executive director, the McCoy Center will have access to an entire team of specialized experts from a company that has been operating in our community for more than 40 years."

Beginning in January, the McCoy Center and CAPA will enter into a transition agreement in which both organizations will evaluate all functions becoming the responsibility of CAPA, and create a strategy for the full transfer of those duties on July 1. In addition to management services, Bill Conner, President and CEO of CAPA, will serve as volunteer Managing Director, reporting directly to the McCoy Center board.

"We look forward to the opportunity to assist the McCoy Center in fulfilling its mission to foster a greater appreciation of arts and culture in central Ohio," said Michael Petrecca, CAPA Board Chair. "The McCoy Center has made a significant impact on the arts in New Albany and Columbus, and we look forward to supporting their mission and vision."

The McCoy Center, which was made possible through a partnership between the New Albany Community Foundation, City of New Albany, Plain Township, and the New Albany-Plain Local School District, has established unique partnerships with many organizations outside of New Albany including the Columbus Children's Theatre, Columbus City Schools, The King Arts Complex, Storytellers of Central Ohio, TransitArts, and WOSU.

"The New Albany Community Foundation remains committed to supporting the McCoy Center in its mission to deliver quality cultural and educational programming," said Craig Mohre, President of The New Albany Community Foundation. "CAPA's expertise and efficiencies undoubtedly will benefit the McCoy Center and we look forward to an exciting season."

As the anchor to the New Albany Learning Community campus, the McCoy Center will continue to serve New Albany students, providing an exciting environment in which to explore and learn from the arts, accentuated by exposure to professional artists whose appearance has been funded by the many generous corporate and individual sponsors from our community.

"We have enjoyed a unique partnership with the McCoy Center and look forward to working with CAPA to expand the programming opportunities for our students and community," April Domine, Superintendent of the New Albany-Plain Local School District.

"It's great to see collaboration between arts organizations in our community," stated Doug Kridler, President and CEO of The Columbus Foundation. "The efficiencies provided by the new agreement with CAPA will provide the McCoy Center with high quality resources to continue serving central Ohio communities."

CAPA currently provides back office services for CATCO, the Columbus Symphony, Franklin Park Conservatory, Friends of the Drexel, Inc., and Opera Columbus. Services are personalized to fit each organization's needs, but can include marketing, publicity, ticketing, finance, human resources, IT, and development.

Owner/operator of downtown Columbus' magnificent, historic theatres (Ohio Theatre, Palace Theatre, Southern Theatre) and manager of the Riffe Center Theatre Complex, Lincoln Theatre, and Shubert Theater (New Haven, CT), CAPA is a not-for-profit, award-winning presenter of national and international performing arts and entertainment in operation for more than 40 years. For more information, visit www.capa.com.

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