In light of recent public discussion surrounding Pablo Center’s rental model and the relationship with local arts organizations, Amanda Anderson recently offered the following response:
We are aware of recent calls on social media encouraging a boycott of Pablo Center productions. While we respect every individual’s right to express personal opinions, we must address the inaccuracies and implications being circulated.
Pablo Center is a nonprofit arts organization committed to serving the Chippewa Valley through access, education, and performance. We are proud to support the work of local arts organizations and have consistently taken meaningful steps to ensure their continued presence on our stages—including phased rental increases, the creation of the Community Arts Fund, and in-kind services tailored to each group’s unique needs.
As we prepared to enter our eighth season, Pablo Center conducted a comprehensive review of our rental structure and the true costs of hosting events in our facility. Since opening in 2018, Constituent Arts Groups (CAGs) have rented JAMF Theatre at a discounted rate of $650 per day—a modest increase from the $600 charged at the former State Theatre, despite significant enhancements in venue quality, staffing, and technology.
In addition to this reduced rate, CAGs have received more than $1,500 per day in direct labor costs, including:
- Production labor ($600/day)
- Front-of-house staffing ($850/day)
- Custodial services ($120/day)
These services, provided at no cost to the groups, resulted in a net loss of $920 daily in the JAMF Theatre alone—excluding utilities, maintenance, box office labor, marketing expenses, and access to state-of-the-art infrastructure.
Still, under the current rental structure, the following are included in the daily rental fee:
Included in Theatre Rental:
- All ticketing and box office labor, will-call services, ticketing supplies, and fees paid to third-party ticketing systems
- Box office event creation (approx. 2 hours per showtime)
- Inclusion in Pablo Center’s marketing: social media promotion, printed brochures, email campaigns to 55,000+ subscribers, promotion on major event listing pages, and more.
- Event web page with show details and ticket links, plus inclusion in our online event calendar
- Inclusion in Pablo Center member portal
- Subscription and group sales support
- ADA compliance support (ASL interpreter not included)
- Access to all in-house production equipment:
- Spotlights, audio and lighting consoles, PA system
- Chairs, music stands, and stand lights
- Cleaning and maintenance services
- Administrative support
- Required licenses and permits
- Opening night front-of-house services
- Phone, internet, and Wi-Fi
- Use of dressing rooms, showers, and towels
- Piano rental and professional tuning
- Pre-set theater configuration
- Utilities
- Onsite washer and dryer access
Clarifying Facility Fees
A circulating letter has referenced “facility fees” as if they are charged to the arts groups themselves. This is false. These fees have never been paid by the groups. Instead, Pablo Center, like most professional venues in the US, added them to ticket prices to protect arts organizations from absorbing these operational costs directly. This common practice helps shield local groups from increased financial commitments.
To ensure long-term sustainability and continued service to our region’s artists, Pablo Center is implementing a modest rental increase for Season 8 and requesting that groups begin reimbursing labor costs directly tied to their productions. These updates are based on third-party analysis of years of data and are crucial to protecting the future of our organization.
We have extended multiple invitations to our Constituent Arts Groups to discuss these changes. Some have engaged in conversation. Others have declined every offer.
It is disheartening to see individuals call for division without seeking the full picture. These actions do not support the arts—they weaken them. Pablo Center remains open to honest, respectful dialogue with any group willing to come to the table.
We will continue to support the local arts community with transparency, integrity, and fiscal responsibility. We are proud of the partnerships we’ve fostered, the stages we’ve shared, and the memories we’ve helped create.
We will always prioritize mission, sustainability, and collaboration—because the arts deserve nothing less.
