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Show Bill Kimball Reminisces on Art Center's First Anniversary The Art Center has 3 full time staff members and a total operating budget of $190,000 for " 1978. The Board of Trustees has grown to include 18 members representing many sections of the country. Although Bill Kimball considers the Board members "public spirited," he added he would like to see them become much more involved in fund-rais- the Art Center eventually attract artists from all over the country and be nationally recognized. Mr. Kimball is still hoping the Center will receive national recognition, but added it must first be firmly established in Park City and the rest of the western states. It all goes back to his wish to have broader support in the area. "I'm very encouraged about I Awl ' ' it I ,- - - If Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Kimball Art Center, Bill Kimball, was in town over the weekend and shared with the Record his thoughts on the progress, problems, and future direction of Park City's Art Center. This week marks the first anniversary of Kimball Art Center, which opened November 20 of last year. Mr. Kimball began by saying he was pleased with the Art Center's diversity in programming program-ming and general growth in the first year. He said it has been a year of trying to determine what the community wants: "This has been a year of experimentation. We're finding out what goes and what doesn't go," Mr. Kimball said. The Chairman of the Board seemed particularly pleased with the various exhibits, workshops, and productions the Art Center has come up with in the past year. "The variety and diversity is far more than I envisioned," he said. But Kimball added he would like to see more community involvement in the Art Center. A major membership drive will take place soon. In fact, Mr. Kimball said one of the main problems now is not having broader support, including from many older residents in town. A fund-raising drive will also be launched at the beginning of the year. "We need a much broader support," Kimball pointed out, adding that he hoped support for the Center would increase by 3 or 4 times in the next year. This winter, Bill Kimball said he would like to revive films at the Art Center as well as plan more evening activities. He feels strongly about continuing to experiment and trying to find what programs residents want at the Art Center. When asked if the Kimball Art Center was expensive, as was suggested by one Park City resident in last year's issue of the Record, Mr. Kimball responded, "How can we dispell the myth that we're expensive? And it is a myth. Perhaps we look expensive. That's the only reason I can think of." Kimball explained that no admission charge has ever been asked for any of the many exhibits in the main gallery and that events, such as plays and films, are charged so that the revenues can go back into planning and producing more programs in the future. Because the Art Center is a non profit organization, none of the events or shows make a profit. "It (Art Center) is for the public and of the public," Mr. Kimball said. Kimball Art Center Board Chairman Bill Kimball ing and policy making. "5 years from now," he said, "I would like to see my role greatly diminished, and the Board more invovled." Bill Kimball described the most traumatic problem at the Art Center occured when there was a change of directors. David Fernandez Fern-andez took charge when former Director. Alan Crooks, resigned a few months ago. Other than that, Kimball added, there have been no major conflicts in the past year. Mr.Kimball said he was very pleased with the work of the Kimball Art Guild, the volunteer organization supporting the Art Center. The Guild now has 75 members. The Guild was responsible respon-sible for organizing the popular "Outlaw Blues" fund-raising event this past summer which raised $6400 for the Center. The staff of the Art Center was termed "hard working" and "well coordinated" by Kimball. The 3 full time staff members are Director David Fernandez, Assistant Assis-tant Director Franci Eisenberg and newly hired Bonnie Novelle, who is in charge of bookeeping. The Record interviewed Bill Kimball a year ago, and at that time he said he would like to see the future of the Art Center, said Kimball. "But we must have the support," he added. When Bill Kimball first considered consid-ered opening an art center, he asked himself a question: "Shouldn't I do something other than business?" It seems apparent appar-ent that he feels satisfied at his decision to open the Art Center and get into "something other than business." "I am completely satisfied with the facilities and programs," he said over the weekend. As the Art Center moves into its second, year of operation in Park City, Bill Kimball said he wants it to be a place of "stature" and become a viable part of the community. To be involved in an Art Center which offers many important contributions to a community and one which eventually receives national recognition is a dream Bill Kimball has had for quite some time; because of the success the Kimball Art Center has received from its first year in Park City, that dream is steadily evolving into a reality. And Mr. Kimball is probably reminded of that dream every time he walks into the Art Center. "I just like to come in here and feel the vibrancy in it." |