Giving of cash and pledges toward construction of the 130,000-sf center that would serve more than 250 performing arts groups has slowed with the economy. Construction was to have been under way leading to a spring 2004 opening. With the slowdown, the opening has been pushed back to 2005.
In announcing the new gifts, Arts Center Stage, the group planning the center, also announced a new committee composed of Central Texas leaders designed to raise the profile of the fund-raising campaign. Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Austin Mayor Gus Garcia lead the Central Texas Leadership Council.
Last year, the Long Center's planners added a rehearsal and recital hall to their proposal bringing the center's size to 130,000 sf and raising the cost to $110 million from $89 million. The group remains committed to paying for the project with private money. It drew back from an idea to use bond money earmarked for the City of Austin's Waller Creek project for the center.
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