ARTS CENTER'S BACKERS NEED TO TEST SUPPORT FROM REGION

Talk of a new performing and fine arts center at Southeast Missouri State University raises a number of crucial questions -- questions whose answers will have a direct bearing on whether or not such an ambitious project should be pursued.

The first thing that most people notice in the recently published remarks of those who support such a center is the cost. The first reports put the cost in the $40 million-to-$50 million range, but the president of the university, Dr. Dale Nitzschke, has a more realistic facility would cost about half of that original estimate.

In addition, Nitzschke rightly suggests that there are many other factors to be considered before cost even becomes significant. For example, some determination must be made as to whether this region could support such a center. And if so, how large should the center be?

The Cape Girardeau community has long drawn on a wide area for special arts events held here. However, the Community Concert Association, which for decades brought outstanding performing artists to town, folded last year due to lack of support.

Even in St. Louis, where a vibrant arts community supports both performing and fine arts, it is sometimes difficult to draw a crowd. Recent road-company performances of major Broadway hits at the Fox Theater have left many of the 4,100 seats empty.

Right here in Cape Girardeau, of course, is an even better gauge: the Show Me Center. Over the past couple of years, appearances by big-name performers have had to be canceled because of lagging ticket sales. And even concerts that were held failed to draw anywhere near capacity crowds.

There is little question that a new arts center would be a fine addition to the university campus. There is a need both for performance space as well as arts classrooms and rehearsal halls for students and faculty in the performing and visual arts.

But state funding for future construction at Missouri institutions of higher learning is somewhat in jeopardy for the time being. Nearly all of the capital spending in Gov. Mel Carnahan's proposed state budget is earmarked for prisons. Even a much-needed vocational-technical building that was a part of the university's budget request was left out of the governor's spending plans.

Which leaves the possibility of private funding for an arts center. This is certainly worth exploring, and the new university president brings considerable experience in this area. Private fund raising for the just-opened Harrison College of Business building -- a magnificent addition to the university campus -- indicates that there is support from university supporters and alumni for such major projects. But $20 million is a lot of money to raise privately.

If the private funding route is chosen, very likely the bulk of the money would come from foundations and other benefactors outside this region. It would be nice to see a significant show of support from Cape Girardeau and the region before such an effort is launched. Even with the hiring of a new fund-raising director at the university, which is in the works, a strong indication from folks in the area for the arts would be a key step toward a successful campaign to build a new arts center.