The Forest Hills Fine Arts Center:  A Look Back Over Seven Years

• The Fine Arts Center generates revenue through ticket sales, sponsorships/partnerships, advertising, concessions/merchandise from the professional series, and rental income, to help support operational costs. Since 2004 the Center has brought in $2,928,716 in revenue and an additional $160,350 in in-kind donations.

• In the past seven years, since the Center opened it’s doors, the venue has been host to over 1,150 student rehearsals and programs, 1,125 staff and district meetings/trainings, 46 local residence artists with an additional 20 group exhibits totaling over 2,300 local and student artists, 42 professional shows, hundreds of community events/rentals, and over 1,750 enrichment classes for the community. An estimation of total usage by events is over 4,500 rehearsals, concerts, art installations/take-downs, art openings, student and community concerts, meetings/trainings/workshops, professional shows, and rentals in seven years.

• Over the past seven years the Center has hosted more than 1,150 school rehearsals, concerts and programs with approximately 6,500 students a year using the Center; over 1,750 Community Adult and Youth Enrichment classes; and over 1,125 parent/staff meetings/trainings. This combined usage represents 92% of the FAC’s availability annually.

• On average 2,400 people weekly have used the Fine Arts Center during the past year. About 60,000* in a year this year and 420,000 over the past seven years.

• The biggest part of our mission is to support student programming. Some of the programs over the past seven years include, but aren’t limited to: band, choir, and orchestra concerts, FHC’s Bandtasia, FHC and FHN Musicals, the Middle and High School Chorale Galas, Jazz & Percussion Nights, the annual Summerstock production, FHPS Children’s Chorus, FHC Talent Show, Honor’s Nights, Celebrate the Arts Day with Meadow Brook, All-School Programs for Ada Vista & Collins Elementary, Music Programs for elementary schools, Central Woodlands and Northern Trails Musicals, Computer Technology & Literacy summer classes, AP Testing, FHPS Pom/Dance Team rehearsals, Special Events that included: A side-by-side concert with FHPS students at the Grand Rapids Symphony, FHN orchestra students joined Mark Wood (former member of the Transiberian Orchestra) to perform at the Center, the Young Producers program for 5/6 graders, Forest Hills TV Broadcast Seminar, Students for Diversity training, and many more. Some of these programs generate revenue that goes directly back into the school budgets and not the Fine Arts Center.

• At the Center, over 100 students participate each summer in the Summerstock production. Over the past seven years, this experience has provided over 500 students an opportunity to take a class, which instructs them on all aspects of producing a show.

• The Center has generated $2,296,332 in revenues for the Professional Series in the past seven years and currently has 463 season subscribers purchasing seats to all six shows in 2010-2011. These revenues include series ticket sales (44,956 tickets sold), sponsorships/partnerships, playbill advertising, and concessions/merchandise revenues. Fine Arts Center line-up has included such acts as: Bruce Hornsby, Michael McDonald, Styx, The B-52s, Poco, Pure Prairie League, and Firefall, Kool & The Gang, Amy Grant, LeAnn Rimes, Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary, Art Garfunkel, Phoebe Snow, Clint Black, American Idol’s Matt Giraud, Three Dog Night, America, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and more. In addition to the amazing musical acts, the Center’s line-up included many Broadway and Stage acts such as: Movin’ Out, A Chorus Line, Miss Saigon, Chicago, Fiddler on the Roof, Cirque Dreams, Cirque Jungle Fantasy, The Birdhouse Factory, Blast, Lord of the Dance, and Drumline Live! Variey and comedy acts rounded out the line-ups with comedian, Jim Gaffigan, An Evening with Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood, and the cast of Whose Live Anyway and many were completely sold out. In addition, the Center offered a Children’s series in collaboration with the Grand Rapids Civic and Circle Theaters and Opera Grand Rapids. The Center generates revenue each year to cover the costs of these professional shows, through ticket sales, sponsorship/partnership opportunities, playbill advertising, and concessions/merchandise sales.

• Area businesses and organizations generously have sponsored our professional series since opening in 2004. Their generosity has given the center much needed support in both sponsor dollars and in-kind donations. These include: Ameriprise Financial, Forest Hills Foods, Raymond James & Associates, Huntington Bank, United Bank, Select Bank, MVP Sportsplex, Macatawa Bank, Founders Bank & Trust, Citibank Smith Barney, D & W Fresh Market, Juhas and Sullivan Jewelers, Daylily Floral & Gifts, Hilton Grand Rapids Airport, Jeff Dykehouse Photography, Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza Hotel, Townsquare Media (formerly Regent Broadcasting), Bonefish Grille, The Grill at Watermark, Spinnaker Restaurant, Falcon Printing, Afendoulis Cleaners, Grand Rapids Press, and On The Town Magazine, and more.

• The Artist-in-Residence Series continues to involve local artists in a mission-driven experience to work with students and the community, while sharing their work at the Center. In addition to the 46 individual artists and 2,300 local artists, student, and staff that have exhibited work at the Center, there are many groups and collaborative exhibits held annually.

• Some of the collaborative exhibits include: Very Special Arts (VSA), West Michigan Mental Health Foundation, the ISEA (International Society of Experimental Artists), The Grand Rapids Gallery Association, and Alliance for the Arts. In total over 2,000 students and community members have benefited from the resident artists’ visits since 2004 through workshops and classes. In addition, the FAC hosts annual events which include The Grand Rapids Gallery Association’s gallery holiday open house each November, that supports over 15 local galleries in Grand Rapids; The Avenue For The Arts exhibit and showcase event, held every other year, to highlight the neighborhood of the South Division commercial corridor and the projects and events they create; The FHPS Annual Student Exhibit, which in collaboration with the K-12 art teachers, is an expression of student talents and work for the entire community to enjoy. The opening reception includes families and community numbering close to 800 and also showcases the work of all three high schools’ students in a Recycled Fashion Show.

• Centennial Securities Company continues to support the arts by fully-funding all exhibits and the Artist-In-Residence (A.I.R.) program at the Fine Arts Center. Additional support for the AIR/Exhibit Program is given by D&W Fresh Market, Daylily Floral & Gift, and Falcon Printing. This program is completely self-sustaining and does not draw monies off of any district budgets.

• The Forest Hills Community Adult and Youth Enrichment classes have held over 1,750 classes at the Center. Some of those class offerings include: Mixed Media, Oil Painting, Watercolor, Drawing, Digital Photography, Guitar Basics, Beginner/Advanced Pilates, Yoga, Community/Staff Zumba, Ballroom Dancing, and several other classes. In addition, the Center is the site for the annual National Senior Health & Fitness Day event, bringing thousands of people to the venue over the past seven years. Revenue generated through these classes goes back into the Community Enrichment budget and not the Fine Arts Center.

• As a centrally-located district facility, the Center is home-base for many of the districts meetings, trainings, and public forums. Over 1,125 of these activities have occurred in the past seven years, mostly during the week day hours, but also in the evenings. Some of these meetings/trainings include, but aren’t limited to: Annual FHPS Staff Kick-off, with over 1,200 in attendance each year, Diversity Kick-off, Diversity Training with Champions of Diversity and the Institute for Healing Racism, Parent Advisory Council Meetings, Teaching & Learning Committee, District Cultural Arts, Instructional Seminars (Explorations with Katie Wood Ray), school staff retreats/strategic planning sessions, Instructional meetings, Administrative meetings, K-6 Elementary Day Committee, Gifted & Talented parent meetings, MAPT Transportation Meetings, the district-wide Retirement Picnic, and many more.

• Over 500 volunteers have been trained to assist with events and office operations for a contribution of 2,700 hours of service this past year. Since opening in 2004, FAC volunteers have logged more than 13,000 hours at the Fine Arts Center. Without the volunteer family, it would be highly difficult to provide the quality of programming and events at the Center.

• As a community partner, the Center has had many corporate/business rentals and non-profit rentals over the past seven years. In that time, the Center has generated over half a million dollars in rental income. These rentals provide an important revenue source to help with Center operations. Some of the rentals include: Alticor, Berbee, Burcon Chiropractic, Diamond Quest, Inc., Forest Hills Foods, GE Aviation, Gordon Foods, Integrated Architecture, Integrity Planners, John Hall’s Alaska, US Green Council, Ken Davis Productions/Filming Brian Scheer, Fulvew Productions commercial shoot, Dean Van Dis Photoshoot, Mary Free Bed Guild Corp, Priority Health, Proctor & Gamble, Raymond James & Associates, Sharpe Collection, The Moving Company and several other dance competition companies, Todd J. Clark Association, Trane West Michigan, Trigo Bread Company (Panera), Kent District Library speaker events, Spectrum Health, Law Office of Shawn Weera, Frechette Photography Photo Shoot, wedding receptions, and more.

• In addition to corporate rentals, the FAC is honored to host special events for The Grand Rapids Symphony Family Series, Grand Rapids Symphony Rehearsals & Auditions, The Grand Rapids Ballet Company, the Keller Cooler Series, Grand Valley State University, the West Michigan Youth Ballet, Sweet Adelines, and Kent District Library, Spectrum Health, the Grand Rapids Youth Symphony, to name a few. The rentals are part of the revenue that the Center generates to assist in operational support.

What People Are Saying About the Fine Arts Center!

"I love being a subscriber because throughout the season you get a little bit of everything at our beautiful, intimate venue. I appreciate the quality and talent that you bring to the FAC."   — Mike Lareau, FHPS Teacher

"The Hilton Grand Rapids Airport is proud to be a sponsor for such a fine facility that provides exceptional quality entertainment and services to the community.  It is a pleasure to work with The Forest Hills Fine Arts Center Staff.  We appreciate you and your focus on quality events!"  — Judith Young, Senior Sales Manager Hilton Grand Rapids Airport

"With Forest Hills Public Schools and the Fine Arts Center in our backyard it just seemed right to make them a part of our marketing plan.  The people who have assisted us to make it happen are great and the quality of shows and events are all outstanding.  But what truly keeps us coming back is the incredible interaction between the Fine Arts Center and the students.  I would guess something on this level only occurs at major colleges and universities and so we are very proud to be a part of it in our own community !!!"  — Randy Hansen, President Centennial Securities Company

"My husband and I have truly been delighted with our FAC season tickets. The venue is wonderful, acoustics superb and parking a breeze. We’ve also been pleased with the variety of shows each season. It’s been fun to see some shows or performers that we might not ordinarily have purchased tickets to see. We also think that the Fine Arts Center has done a great job providing a venue for local performing companies like the West Michigan Youth Ballet. I feel extremely privileged to have the Fine Arts Center in our community. Thanks for all you do."  — Deb Cloney and Scott Kammeraad

“I volunteer at the Fine Arts Center as a way to give back to the district which provides so many opportunities to our children.”  — Frank Tomasik

“We enjoy the times we are there...what is brought to us is so enriching and such a multitude of so many great things.”  — Susan Hallifax L.P.N., Life Enrichment Coordinator at Breton Woods/Terrace

"Happy Holidays to you, and thanks for doing so much good for our community through the Fine Arts Center."  — Mary Beth Kolenda, Marketing Coordinator at Founders Bank & Trust

"Volunteering for a well run non-profit is a satisfying experience really, so it is a pleasure to be associated with you and your organization. I am receiving what I wanted from this, namely a chance to get out once a month for some low-cost entertainment (the price of gas), to make friends with people from the Forest Hills area, and to contribute to the next generation in a way that 20th century psychologist, Erik Erikson, referred to as 'generativity'. Generativity is an extension of love into the future. It is a concern for the next generation and all future generations."  — Dave Kolman, FAC Volunteer

About the Fine Arts Center

Reflecting the community’s spirited dedication to the arts—and made possible through a special bond referendum approved in 2000—the Forest Hills Public Schools Fine Arts Center was created to enhance the artistic growth and enjoyment of area youth, families, and seniors. Custom designed and equipped with leading-edge technology, the 62,000 square foot facility provides a uniquely effective environment for learning opportunities and staged performances in all aspects of the performing and visual arts, including:

• Performances produced by schools within the school district

• An annual subscription series of traveling productions by world-class professionals

• Special concerts, performances, and lectures by featured performing artists and speakers

• Art exhibits by local students and local, regional, and national artists

• A selective artist-in-residence program for the mutual benefit of artists and area students

• A broad spectrum of art enrichment classes for youth, adults, and seniors

Nestled on a spacious green campus in the heart of the Forest Hills community, the Fine Arts Center is a dramatic composition in concrete, copper and glass. Designed in harmony with its natural surroundings, it is among the first facilities of its type to be certified for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) by the United States Green Building Council.

The state-of-the-art facility offers the resources and amenities more typically associated with a regional performance theater, including a 4,500 square foot stage in an auditorium that seats more than 1,200 people. The scenic lobby provides a natural backdrop for the display of original artwork, and doubles as a spacious venue for trade shows, conferences, banquets, receptions, and more. An adjoining café offers guests a comfortable spot to relax between activities, and enjoy a snack or beverage during intermissions. Throughout the building, multi-purpose meeting and classrooms equipped with the latest audio-visual and Internet technologies offer maximum flexibility to support a broad range of functions, while our visual arts and dance studios provide creative working environments for students and professionals.

Owned and operated by Forest Hills Public Schools, the Fine Arts Center is self sustaining through an endowment fund, class tuitions, performance-generated revenues, and fees charged for private rental of the facility and its resources. Generous commitments of time and effort by a corps of volunteers with a visionary community and artistic spirit make the amazing things accomplished here possible.

In October 2006, Paul Dickinson of Integrated Architecture presented the Fine Arts Center's Silver LEED Award to the Forest Hills Public Schools Board of Education.