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New tiles, lobby facelift part of $500K in work at Kirby. Membership drive to begin.
Drew Taylor, director of operations at the F.M. Kirby Center, stands outside on South Washington Street where the arts center’s exterior is undergoing a tile renovation project.
Pete g. wilcox/the times leader
Workers are replacing the terra-cotta tiles on the rear of the F.M. Kirby Center – one of three major renovation projects going on at the historic performing arts center.
Marilyn Santarelli, executive director of the Kirby, said the projects total around $500,000 and are funded with money raised during the past three years through capital campaigns.
“The reality of the situation is that the money for these projects was raised specifically for and restricted to capital improvements,” Santarelli said. “We received money from the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission, Luzerne County and the federal government.”
Santarelli made it clear the Kirby Center is in need of continued public support to fund its annual operating budget. She said in recent years, operations have totaled $2.5 million to $3 million annually.
“Our annual membership campaign will begin soon,” she said. “We are dependent upon those dollars for operating revenue. In this current economic climate it is critical that we make up shortfalls in ticket sales with philanthropy.”
In addition to the exterior tile replacement project, Santarelli said the building needs extensive roof repairs and the lobby is undergoing an aesthetic facelift. She said the roof repairs will cost approximately $150,000.
The terra-cotta tiles for the exterior along South Washington Street will cost around $322,000, she said. The historic tiles need to be specially manufactured. Masonry Preservation Services, Inc., of Berwick, is doing the work.
“The rear-wall area was deteriorating,” Santarelli said. “We were concerned that it could compromise the structure of the building. These walls are old; the building was built in 1936.”
Santarelli said the Kirby Center receives revenue from ticket sales and theater rentals. She said philanthropy is critical to the center’s continued operation. She said donations, foundation grants and other private support are vital to the center.
Add to that the anticipated loss of around $48,000 in state funds from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Santarelli said the current state budget woes have all but guaranteed the loss of the state funding.
“That’s a significant portion of the $600,000 we have to raise for operations,” she said.
Santarelli said programming at the Kirby will feature big shows and big names. She mentioned The Wizard of Oz, Brian Wilson, Boz Scaggs, Michael McDonald and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy as a few of the major events on the schedule.
Santarelli said the leaky roof caused water damage to the recently restored ceiling of the Kirby Center.
“We’ll just have to raise more money,” she said.