Newport Performing Arts Center revises strategy

It’s been more than 25 years since planning began to restore the former Newport Opera House into a vibrant performing arts center, just up the street from The Jane Pickens Film & Event Center, with the promise of making Washington Square a hub for high-level entertainment. 

And it’s been a quarter century of unfulfilled expectations, as organizers have struggled to raise the $23 million needed for renovations, setting anticipated completion dates that have come and gone.

Now, the Newport Performing Arts Center Board has drastically reduced the project budget to $10 million, focusing on completion of the performance space. The goal remains for a 700-seat theater, hopeful construction can begin in the next year.

It is another promise from a group that has been unwavering in its commitment to see this renovation through, and one that dramatically changes the goal to one that seems far more attainable than in the past.

In 2017, organizers were expecting an opening the next year, and then even a year ago the expectation was an opening by the end of this year (2024). Now, Melissa Caldwell Quinn, the Newport Performing Arts Center managing director, says the “goal is to secure this funding in early 2025 and launch a process for the start of construction.”

In February, Quinn said that they expected to raise $23 million by the end of the year, a goal obviously not achieved. Now, with a more attainable goal, the hope is to resume construction in 2025, with the opening a year later. But construction will not resume, say organizers, until all funds are raised.

We asked several questions of Quinn and John Cratin, chair of the Board of Directors of the Newport Performing Arts Center, looking for updates on fundraising, construction, projections, and other aspects of the project. Initially Quinn said the executive board would not answer until they had a chance to reach out to patrons, which they did on the Arts Center website about a week ago. Quinn responded a few days later.

Here are the questions and answers, plus additional information culled from the Arts Center’s 990 report, a financial picture of non-profits akin to an annual corporate tax return.

• WUN: How much money has been raised over the last year, and what is the total raised in fundraising efforts?
  • Quinn: Annual fundraising campaign: “2024 to date — $210,770.” Capital campaign: “NPAC is in active conversations with several individuals to secure the remaining funding needed to perform the next phase of construction and open the theater.”
    • In February in response to a WhatsUpNewp Article, Quinn reported that Newport Arts Center had pledges of some $5 million, with a goal of reaching $23 million by the end of 2024. 
• WUN: Is Susan Palmer of the Palmer Westport Group still serving as a fundraising consultant to the Newport Performing Arts Center?
  • Quinn: Yes.
• WUN: What contributions have there been from the state of Rhode Island – contributions, other considerations? In the past NPAC officials have referenced both state and federal tax credits of $4 million and that NPAC has qualified for the tax credits?
  • QUINN: “The historic tax credit program is a rebate program.”
• WUN: (note) – Several years ago, Rhode Island voters approved a creative and cultural economic bond that provided the Newport Performing Arts Center $4.2 million,
• WUN: To what if any, is the city of Newport involved, financially and otherwise?
  • QUINN: “The city of Newport continues to be strong supporter of the project, but there are no plans for financial support.”
• WUN: Paid staff and salaries and benefits?
  • QUINN: “Melissa Quinn, Managing Director. Compensation is listed in the 990.”
    • WUN: (note): The 990 report for 2023, filed in November, is a report on 2022 financials. For that year, the 990 report lists salaries and wages of $69,900 with another $4,196 in other employee benefits.
• WUN: Has there been any construction work lately? If not, what is the plan? (The Dec. 12 letter on the Arts Center’s website indicates that no construction has been undertaken lately, but a re-evaluation of the project was being undertaken in 2025.)
  • QUINN: She did not provide a specific answer to this question, but the following question refers to construction.
• WUN: Is there any projection when the project will be completed?
  • QUINN: “The plan is to start construction when full funding is in place. According to the revised budget performed in 2024, the duration of construction is estimated to be between 10-14 months and every effort is being made to begin the next phase in 2025.”
• WUN: Quinn, in her letter on the Arts Theater’s website says “NPAC’s Board of Directors and campaign team have been focused on what it will take to create a clear path to viability for this critical project for Newport.  After numerous discussions with many of our supporters, we realized that a key part of this path included a reassessment of the construction budget. Earlier this year, NPAC worked with its general contractor, Farrar & Associates, to assist in re-crafting our plan.  After a value engineering exercise, a new estimate was created that would reduce the overall construction costs to roughly $10 million without sacrificing the audience and performer experience.”
• .WUN: Have the plans changed at all – reduction in plans for a 700-seat theater?
  • QUINN: “There are no plans to reduce the capacity of the theater.”
• WUN: What changes were made to the plans to trim that budget? What is the actual target number now? What has been raised?
  • QUINN: “The capacity remains at 700-seats. The overall project has not changed. The goal of the $10 million budget is to focus on completing the main building and auditorium, obtaining a certificate of occupancy, and opening to the public. Elements such as the fourth floor will be planned for a following phase. These elements will still happen but are not required to open the 700-seat theater.”
• WUN: Has there been any change in vendors, contractors, architects, etc. who have been engaged in the project? If so, what changes have been made?
  • QUINN: No.
• WUN: Any changes in the makeup of the board?
  • QUINN: No.