Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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r The ooutli Carolina Library Campus Wednesday^ | Volume LXX? No. 1 University of South Carolina, Columbia, S C- August 2"7, 1980 I Arise $250,00C 1UI II lILlCll a By L?roy WWHams Staff Writer The state Budget and Control Board has allocated $250,000 for the initial architectural planning of USC's proposed $40 million fine arts center. Gov. Dick Riley, who has opposed funding tne center during the recession, persuaded the board in July to delay its decision while he gathered more information about the project. Riley has said almost every institution in the state could make a justified request for an arts center and feels that the facility If an additional t the Township wot see spending the to duplicate what should be made statewide. "We don't want to spend the whole $250,000 for a fixed arts center," he said. "It is my understanding that this request offers enough flexibility and leeway so that the $250,000 could be spent for planning and work to be done with a possible facility in mind and not with a fixed plan," Riley said before the board's decision. RILEY AND Iiolderman met before the meeting and \ agreed not to set definite R> l 1 $2 ?'?&' /^IIPHr/-:^' ^@K<r ' \^E The Carolina Arts Co, and Control Board appn Williams/ ',6^^ 1 aiiULL^U planning plans on the building but to work out a "reasonable proposal" to be considered in housing the Movietonews films. Those films were donated to USC on the condition that a building be provided to house them. Riley suggested USC explore the use of existing auditoriums, including the Township Auditorium for theater and other performing arts instead of the six that are planned for the center. David Rinker, vice president for facilities planning, said the next step acility were built, u/d suffer. I can't taxpayers' money we already have.' -Candy Waites of the project is to hav architects "identify specifi types of spaces and facilitie needed." The project was propose in 1973, but it fizzled in 19? when a fiscal crisis force S.C. officials to reclaim a appropriated money fo other state developments. IN 1973, $11 million wa authorized for the center. After USC spent $3.5 millioi the remaining money ws returned during the budgi crisis. Some of the plar developed in 1973 will t - - - ? my or r " Tr r WwMi ' nr r. ?i nter may be built at this s yved funding for the projec \ gets o gampr fe ?': >Jp ' <WK-?' ^p'ZOtiyV.Vi? W USC President James t Board hearings. (Photo b e used for the proposed c facility, Rinker said. s Rinker said two branch art centers at the USC regional d campuses at Aiken and '5 Conway are also being d planned. The Aiken campus II ic cM>lrinc <1 1 millinrt in M.M 4JVVUtll^ ^>V<V laiAIllVll 111 ir addition to a private gift of $1.25 million. The Conway project will be funded s through pri va te donation. Columbia and Richland n, County officials favored the is board's decision, but some et were concerned the center is might hurt business at the >e Township Auditorium. ^^gBSgyg;:- ^SL i^K ,ite on the Congaree River in 't's first phase at its Aug. 1 i boost mm 7---Q , fofr. . .' vis ' ">/. x---??K ". ' j 4 " Jgm' X, i',4S: yt-X' A'. -v^sj T^a^gc-:-fC : :.f. '|V, r^Sftgg* f. Hoiderman leads a parade ol yXyle Holland) * ~ Columbia Mayor Kirkman ( Finlay said he favored the hnarH's Hm>ision tn ftinri tho < planning. He said a center i for the media and per- i forming arts is needed in s Columbia and shouldn't i romnetp with i facilities. He also said USC had an advantage in having already selected a site for the center. "THE FACT that a site has been chosen gives the university some flexibility," Finlaysaid. "If construction -(on the center) is delayed, a site will already have been . '. \ :. ' - ,; v. '." V ' ' ' ; ~:Y-.-~--\. ;": . . | : ;.-i Columbia. The state Budget 9 meeting. {Photo by Tony * .iiiffffr ~7 9 ^^MK&ry S::: :>" ' -1:: _ ^sk isr I Sgi P M 9 M - M - frowning ractts ar ino a i"* "l' ' % :hosen." Jimmy Bales, Richland bounty Council chairman, laid he was pleased with tlie arts center proposal. "We should have had it several /ears ago," he said. "The :enter is a badly needed isset for the state and Tarnlirsfl " "I think it is tremendous," ;aid John Camp, a County Council member. "I'm glad he state is looking in that lirection." He said he loesn't believe the proposed :enter will compete with the nty's two main facilities, Jarolina Coliseum ana tne rownship. Judy Stringer, executive director of the Downtown \ction Council of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce said the decision will positively affect downtown and river-front developments. 14It will promote the state and thp Smith as a ner Forming arts center," she said. The new arts center will boost Columbia to Atlanta's status as a major cultural center, Stringer said. There was also some negative reaction to the funding decision, stemming from concern that the center would hurt the Township's business. "IF AN ADDITIONAL facility were built, the Township would suffer," council member Candy Waites said. "I can't see spending the taxpayers' money to duplicate what we already have." Council member James Barber III agreed, 'if they want to hold other events there it could cause some problems. It might take needed shows and money from the Township." Those who favor the arts center say it would not r* 0 *+ I izaio ouagei ana %*onzrui ? " compete with the Township or Carolina Coliseum because the existing facilities could still schedule concerts, while arts such as i li.i ? i opera or oauei couia oe exhibited in the center. Representatives of the Township wouldn't comment on the board's funding decision, but this year is projected to be the auditorium s Dest, witn more than 220 shows already under contract. Robert Horning, Carolina Coliseum director, said a new center will have no effect on the 12,000 - seat arena.