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 Dear GPAC friends:
As President of the Board of Directors, I want to thank you for attending our performances and sharing in the development of the arts in our community.
GPAC has undergone wonderful growth in the past decade, under the leadership of our departing Executive Director, Tania Castroverde Moskalenko. GPAC has become an integral part of the Germantown and Greater Memphis community, and we envision it anchoring the development of the Germantown city center. Beyond showcasing a list of acclaimed performers and artists, GPACs contribution to our community includes a growing art education and outreach program as well as events targeting families with children.
GPAC is a magnet for cultural and economic development; it is a nucleus for growth in Germantown and is a feature that should be highlighted to incoming young professionals to make our city attractive and competitive in the regional and national job markets.
But our mission is not one that is fulfilled easily. It implies an ever-expanding list of projects, all with the aim of improving our community at large. Your attendance at our performances is a vital component of our continued success.
Jorge I. Calzada, MD - President of the Board
Germantown Performing Arts Centre Mission
GPAC serves the community by presenting the highest quality artistic endeavors to engage, enrich, and transform.
GPAC History
Eighteen years ago, GPAC began a tradition of excellence in the arts with a performance by the legendary Ray Charles. Today, GPAC is the place where all the major artists, in many different genres, come together to perform. From Yo-Yo Ma to Wynton Marsalis, Dave Brubeck to Joan Baez, Joshua Bell to Ravi Shankar, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater to Mikhail Baryshnikov, It's Happening at GPAC!
The GPAC mission is to serve the community by presenting the highest quality artistic endeavors to engage, enrich and transform. We are an acoustically perfect, 824 seat venue featuring a main stage, an intimate black box theatre, an elegant green room, spacious dressing rooms and a grand lobby for entertaining and assembling. Located in the heart of Shelby County, GPAC welcomes 64,000 citizens to our theatre annually for performances, educational activities, visual art exhibits and community events. GPAC benefits from the infrastructure of a professional organization that possesses a clear direction, strong financial health, and a committed board of directors, dedicated staff, and volunteers. In all of its endeavors - quality and array of artists presented, educational programs, marketing initiatives, fund raising efforts, financial viability, community involvement, reaching underserved audiences - GPAC works diligently to fulfill its mission.
GPAC provides a full subscription series of performances each season, as well as a rehearsal/performance venue for many arts groups, including the IRIS Orchestra, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Opera Memphis, Germantown Symphony Orchestra, and Germantown Chorus.
GPAC has a strong commitment to education and engages an Educational Outreach Coordinator dedicated to developing and expanding GPAC's overall community education/outreach. As a result, over the last five years educational programming has grown by 279% including new programs like pre-ballet classes, Suzuki music, adult ArtSavvy art experiences, guitar lessons, GPAC Journeys, and summer dance/art camps. Additionally, two years ago, GPAC founded a youth symphony with 35 student musicians. Today, the program has approximately 105 members ages 7 to 19 and performs twice yearly on the GPAC stage. It is a full orchestra consisting of strings, winds, brass, percussion, harp, and keyboard. One of its goals is to expose the students to performing and learning opportunities abroad. As such, the youth orchestra recently completed a cultural and educational tour of China.
The Jazz in the Box (JIB) series was introduced in the 2006/2007 season to sold out audiences. This popular little jazz club is held in GPAC's Black Box Theatre on the third Friday of the month and to date has served nearly 3,500 patrons.
GPAC's celebrated Peanut Butter & Jam (PBJ) music education program marks its 17th season with exciting programs to introduce children, ages 8 and under, to a wide variety of musical instruments and styles. Sessions are held on select Saturday mornings throughout the concert season. Attendance at PBJ has increased three-fold.
GPAC at a Glance
· GPAC is an 824-seat, acoustically perfect concert venue presenting world-class artists in classical music, dance, jazz, world music, comedy, musical theatre and family programming.
· GPAC is governed by a 19 member Board of Directors and managed by a dedicated professional staff.
· GPAC has experienced tremendous growth and success over the last five seasons. Programming has tripled, a financial reserve created, volunteer programs strengthened, and educational programming increased 279%.
· GPAC utilized 161 volunteers last season representing nearly 5,000 volunteer hours. This includes 100 volunteer ushers, board members, advisory committee members and a 40 member performing arts support Guild.
· GPAC has turned a $500,000 deficit into a positive financial reserve over the last seven seasons.
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