Diane Quinn, CEO, Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
In an interview with Invest:, Diane Quinn, CEO of the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, discussed the growing opportunities for the arts and culture industry in the region. “The arts have a bright future in Palm Beach, and I attribute that not only to the makeup of the community, but also to the community’s interest in the arts,” Quinn said.
What recent changes have had the biggest impact on the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts?
The arts and cultural industries, in general, have finally recovered after the pandemic, but they’ve been in flux for the last 18 months. We still see smaller and regional arts organizations feeling the pressure. Part of that is coming from cuts to federal dollars, and in the state of Florida last year, the governor vetoed all arts funding. We saw a constriction in the market. However, the Kravis Center has been growing, because Palm Beach County is growing at such an incredible pace. The rising cost of doing business is also having an impact on every organization, ours included, and it’s required us to rethink our programming as we respond to the needs of the community.
What is your overview on the recent sales performance at the center?
Last year, we had an extraordinary year. In fact, we had to cut our Broadway series subscription or we would not have had an opportunity for single-ticket sales. We even increased our classical music series, which is surprising given the usual age group that might be interested in seeing classical music. The two big areas of growth for us have been comedy and family programming. Netflix started to explode with standup comedy around 2016, and Dave Chappelle was the big moment that changed the landscape. We have leaned into standup comedy, and we are seeing enormous growth in the 18- to 34-year-old age group as the next generation of art-goers. We have also leaned into family programming, and we’ve seen a lot more young families coming to the Kravis Center.
What are the areas of opportunity for the Kravis Center?
One area would be free programming. Last year, we did 26 events of free music on the campus plaza, featuring only local musicians. The audience didn’t have to buy a ticket or even step foot inside the building, but we are trying to welcome people onto our campus. We also have family-friendly days. One example is our block party, a totally free event. More than 2,000 people registered for the party last year. It is an open house to let them experience the Kravis Center, and get them to understand who we are, as well as what we do. From an innovation standpoint, we are very interested in interactive, immersive programming. We did a pilot project last summer with a free-roam VR experience using Oculus, showing the International Space Station where people could interact with the astronauts.
What role does the Kravis Center play in supporting the vibrancy and growth of the cultural scene in the region?
Kravis Center was established in 1992. When we started, there was nothing else here. We stood at that time as a magnet to attract business to West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County, as well as to provide cultural and arts programming for the people who lived here. As I look outside of my window to the convention center across the road, the Hilton Hotel, the Marriott Hotel, and a retail area, I would say that vision was extremely successful. We continue to play a significant role as a cultural anchor and institution as new visionaries of West Palm Beach grow in this area. We are seen as the jewel in the crown of Palm Beach County’s live performance sector.
What collaboration is the Kravis Center seeking in facilitating access for students?
As we see curriculum changes in the public school system, and a reduction in arts funding, we feel that it is even more of our mission to make sure we are reaching out to the school system. Over a year ago, we entered into a partnership with the Palm Beach County School District, through which grade five students would come to the Kravis Center, see a performance, and interact with performers. Together with other educational programming that we do, we reached nearly 91,000 students last year. There was such success that we are now working on a project where we would also welcome all grade six students. If we can reach out to young people early enough, we’re going to ignite something in their creativity, and make them realize how the arts can really impact their lives. For students of all ages, we include adults in some programming, such as in writing programs and the NeuroArts Conference. Education for us takes many forms, and we want to make sure that no one is left out of the equation.
What are the center’s strategies to encourage more collaborations?
We are doing some interesting projects. One of our first ever collaborations with another performing arts center, the Arsht Center in Miami, is producing a new project called “Where Did We Sit on the Bus?” Another new project, called “Jazz in Unexpected Places,” includes an interactive exhibition telling stories about the African-American experience in jazz. We are also embarking on our third cultural excursion with high-level donors to various cities in other parts of North America. This engagement allows our donors to understand how the Kravis Center can connect the arts, not only in their home community, but also in another community.
What are the biggest challenges in the performing arts industry?
One of the challenges from a national perspective is federal funding cuts to arts education in schools, the National Endowment for the Arts, and other programs. The other thing affecting the entire community would be third-party ticket buyers. It increases ticket prices for someone who does not come to our official website. It becomes really problematic if they purchase tickets from someone who is not authorized to sell a ticket. We’re working very hard with other performing arts centers across the country to find a way to reduce fraudulent ticket sellers. We really encourage people to come to our own website, or even come to our box office window.
What is your outlook for the Kravis Center, and the overall performing arts industry in Palm Beach County?
We are very bullish on the arts. The arts have a bright future in Palm Beach, and I attribute that not only to the makeup of the community, but also to the community’s interest in the arts. With new technology, artists have a lot more tools at their disposal to create art, and we will be the beneficiaries of that. We are wide open to trying a lot of new things, and responding to the market here. We’re fortunate to be the stage that ultimately shows artists’ works, so we’re trying to use every space on our campus. We’re even looking at micro shows, where the audience can experience the magic close-up.
