Guest opinion

The Acorn's May 29 editorial about the High Street Arts Center (HSAC), while complimentary about keeping the arts center going, shows that the editor has not done his homework.

Instead, he's listening to the same few naysayers who've been repeatedly criticizing the center's operation with inaccurate representations.

Things have changed in three years at the High Street Arts Center—and for the better.

HSAC-sponsored productions have received critical acclaim around Ventura County. The number of performances—paid, rental or free—has increased from more than 70 in the first year to more than 100 in year three.

Overall attendance is up every year, from more than 7,000 total patrons in year one to more than 9,000 in year two and more than 10,000 in year three. Paid attendance was up in year two and slightly down in year three, but still above year one levels.

This year the U.S. is in the worst recession in a half-century. As a patron of Moorpark arts who also supports Los Angeles arts, I've seen the attendance drop there this year also.

Do local arts center critics think the theater and Moorpark residents are immune to this recession? Don't blame the arts center for families having less money to spend on the arts.

In 2007, the City Council gave direction to city staff and the general manager of the theater to increase attendance, partly by adding discount promotions.

Buried in the text of the May 20 city agenda report were numerous nuggets of information that showed increased attendance and public participation at the theater. But inexplicably, the summary charts presented did not focus on all attendance, not even on all paid attendance, but only on paid attendance during the planned "season."

There were rental productions with paid patrons. Many other free events (book signings, Moorpark Arts Festival, etc.) to showcase the theatre have brought new faces to the HSAC.

When you view the full picture and see how the city is reaching out to the community, you wonder how people can say attendance is down. Do we still need more to attend? Of course. But let's not misrepresent what has been accomplished.

For each of three years, 80 children have participated in Gypsy Productions musical shows. Five scholarships worth more than $700 each were given to Moorpark children in the third year.

This year, a local theater foundation that puts on children's programs rented the HSAC, involving about 20 local youth. And a total of 52 youth, from Moorpark College to elementary school students, have been cast in seven of the 15 HSAC regular productions to date.

Contrary to statements made by critics of the arts center's operation, there are 67 volunteers, supervised by the general manager to support operations. This is public record. Yet the critics tell the public otherwise.

The city has an Arts Commission, made up of Moorpark residents, which invites the public to come and discuss all issues related to the arts.

Those who are claiming they have no say in play selection didn't even attend the Arts Commission meeting on May 19 at which play selection was discussed.

Wholesale changes now to eliminate having a professional general manager and most or all city oversight of a spectacular historical asset that is breathing life into our downtown, one day at a time, in favor of volunteer management of the theater, as has been suggested, would be a mistake.

The professional general manager model is working well and will continue to improve as it has each year.

Roseann Mikos is a Moorpark council member. Reach her at rmikos@ci.moorpark.ca.us.