METAIRIE – The Jefferson Performing Arts Society, a 45 -year -old performing arts nonprofit, has taken over the management of the Jefferson Performing Arts Center on Airline Drive.
Jefferson Parish Council approved an RFP that was submitted by the Jefferson Performing Arts Society in March 2022 and approved the contract at its June 29 meeting.
“As JPAC managers, we hope to work with the parish and significantly improve the goal to reduce operating costs, improve the quality and level of service to the community, and expand the range of applications available at the venue,” he said. Stephen Dwyer, president of the JPAS board.
One of the main objectives of JPAS is to improve access to the use of the facility. “With our deep relationship to the Parish community, we will expand access to the use of JPAC to a variety of community artists and groups,” Dwyer said.
JPAS has more than four decades of experience in providing customer service that is effective specifically for performing arts venues throughout Jefferson Parish. These unmatched skills will be applied to all JPAC applications in JPAS management.
“JPAC is a world class venue that has not yet reached its potential as an artist and target audience in the cultural life and identity of the Parish and the South Gulf. JPAS will bring nearly fifty years of experience in enabling the venue to repeat this. Beyond JPAS’s own production, our staff is there. Regional, national, and international networks with nonprofit and commercial producers, promoters, and artists and will energetically strive to improve the quality and diversity of programs and the public profile of this great place, ”Dwyer said.
JPAS will proactively pursue venue use for corporate events and product launches, community events, and participation in regional festivals – areas virtually undiscovered since the venue opened.
In January 2020, JPAS added the position of executive director and the name of Timothy Todd Simmons, former executive director of Opera New Orleans and Opera Naples, to this position.
