What's in a name? Cash--lots of it--for Alliance for the Arts
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

Someone with $5 million to spare can get publicity through Alliance for the Arts by naming the performing arts center. A list of naming opportunities was included in last week's City Council agenda packet.

Naming the Civic Arts Plaza Park goes for $3 million. The lobby of the Fred Kavli Theatre for Performing Arts can bear your name for only $1 million.

Also for a cool million, the complex's circular drive, parking structure trellis, conference center, glass elevator and an acoustic enhancement system of the Kavli Theatre can be named.

Alliance for the Arts is the official nonprofit fundraising arm of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. Each year, the alliance supports the Fred Kavli and Scherr Forum theatre operations, including the marketing and programming efforts. Money the group raises helps keep ticket prices down and provides money for local nonprofit performing arts groups to appear at the Civic Arts Plaza.

The alliance also provides free bus transportation and tickets to the theater for children and families who otherwise couldn't afford to attend.

One way to raise money is through naming opportunities, the same way that many sports stadiums nationwide have acquired commercial names.

Stages, balconies, terraces, lobbies and an outdoor atrium also need names, which range in price from $250,000 to $750,000.

A skylight of the Forum Theatre is listed for $100,000. Also at $100,000 is a tower at the Kavli Theatre, parking structure levels and the circular driveway island.

In the $60,000 range are a handicapped-accessible elevator, a Yamaha grand piano, lobby glass doors, driveway benches, light posts, entrance pillars, wardrobe shop, green room, house manager's office, dressing room, rehearsal room and musicians' lounge.

A stage trapdoor, stage-left door, stage-right door, crew lounge, light booth, audio booth, projection booth and the eastside mezzanine window are among the items to be named for $30,000.

Planters can be named for $10,000 each.

Terms regarding the donations and amounts can be modified by the alliance's board of directors.

During a recent City Council meeting, the council voted unanimously to approve the lease of the alliance for one year.

The alliance office is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays and is to the left of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza/city hall lobby, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. For more information, call (805) 449-2590.