Palafox Street is brighter than ever with new bronze plaques honoring the performing arts in Pensacola. Pensacola Opera has laid bronze pavers recognizing major contributors to its 30th Anniversary Season Securing the Future Campaign. The Opera is the first group to participate in this recognition opportunity made available by the City of Pensacola to the major arts groups that perform at the historic Saenger Theatre.
Donors who have given major gifts of $10,000, or more, to Pensacola Opera for a special Anniversary campaign each have a bronze plaque bearing their name in a star and the Opera logo in the sidewalk in front of the theatre. Space is still available for donors who chose to support the other arts groups – Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, Pensacola Children’s Chorus and Ballet Pensacola. The Friends of the Saenger also have recognition opportunities available for contributors to support the theatre’s historic preservation.
The vision for the Walk of Stars on Palafox was inspired by the Pensacola Cultural Center’s campaign that was conducted several years ago and gave new life to the theatre community in Northwest Florida. Similarly, the Walk of Stars has provided much needed support to bolster Pensacola Opera and will do the same for the other arts groups when they begin their campaigns. The Walk of Stars will serve as a beautiful, permanent showcase for the performing arts groups that bring life to the Pensacola Saenger Theatre while also making Pensacola an amazing city in which to live, work and play.
Donations to Pensacola Opera’s “Securing the Future†Campaign totaled over $800,000 and met two specific goals for the company. The first was to stabilize the company financially by eliminating debts, growing the endowment fund, renovating the Opera Center, and establishing annual operating reserves. The second was to secure cash reserves to expand and enhance programming to excite opera patrons, reach new audiences, educate more children, and raise opera to an even higher level in Northwest Florida.
“Pensacola Opera has worked diligently over the last 30 years to become the thriving opera company that it is today. Not many people know that we are one of only four professionally-affiliated opera companies in the state of Florida and the only one in the north Florida corridor. It is remarkable that a community of our size even has an opera company. With this campaign, we can keep Pensacola Opera on the map, moving forward, and contributing more to the wonderful quality of life we enjoy here in Pensacola. We can also enhance the role we play in attracting tourists and winter residents to our region. Now into our 31st Season, we are already seeing a tremendous impact in what we are able to contribute to our community due to the impact of these donors’ generous gifts. It gives me great hope about the future of Pensacola and our already vibrant arts community.†says Executive Director Erin Sammis.
The Opera’s Anniversary Committee was led by members of its board; Dr. Ruth Orth, Dr. Barbara Jackson, Lois Benson, Kevin Doyle, Brad Peterson and Jan Miller.