APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center is celebrating 20 years of fine arts and community. And to do that, the PAC decided to welcome the community behind the scenes.
On Thursday, the PAC hosted a community open house to celebrates its 20th anniversary. Community members had the chance to explore backstage and try out different seats in the center — taking in the front row and looking down from some of the highest offerings.
Since its beginning, the PAC has welcomed 40 Broadway premiers and enhanced classroom lessons for over 400,000 students. And the PAC’s economic impact on the Fox Cities has been significant as well — in an average season, the PAC generates between $13 to $20 million of economic activity.
Part of the center’s success is due to the surrounding community, according to PAC President/CEO Maria Van Laanen.
“We’re very fortunate to live in a region where the community is very supportive of the arts,” she said. “The addition of the Performing Arts Center helps shine a little bit more of a brighter spotlight on the incredible talent that’s here in the Fox Cities, and it’s become a destination and an attraction for the best touring artists.”
Van Laanen admitted that no one really knew what to expect when the PAC was first being built.
“We had big dreams about the impact that an organization like this could have in the community, and what’s thrilling is by everybody coming together and working in partnership, we’ve been able to far exceed those expectations. I don’t know that anybody envisioned this being the type of attraction for top talent that it has become, and we know that we have helped to increase the compassion and connection and sense of belonging for so many in our community because of the stories that are being told on stage and the following conversations that they invoke.”
Looking forward to the next 20 years, Van Laanen says she’s excited for the center to continue to grow alongside the community.
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