An Artful Partnership: How SAFE CU Performing Arts Theater is Transforming Community & Culture in Sacramento.

What happens when a historic theater undergoes a dramatic transformation...through a pandemic and over multiple years? Find out as we chat with Sid Garcia-Heberger, Performing Arts Center and Memorial Auditorium Manager, Megan Van Voorhis, Director of the City's Convention and Cultural Services and Allison Yee-Garcia, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for SAFE Credit Union, as they share the behind-the-scenes journey of revamping the Safe Credit Union Performing Arts Center. Originally the Sacramento Community Center Theater, this iconic venue has been reimagined with cutting-edge upgrades like the Constellation electro-acoustical shell and a modern fly rail system. These enhancements not only elevate the audience and performer experience but also solidify the center's role as a cultural icon in downtown Sacramento.

With a sidelight on the Memorial Auditorium, we reveal the critical backstage operations that keep the arts alive and thriving. From laundry facilities essential for quick costume changes to hosting diverse events from comedy shows to  Broadway plays, the theaters showcase their versatility and commitment to community enrichment. The partnership with SAFE Credit Union is a testament to the community's support and dedication to maintaining a vibrant arts culture in the city.

Looking to the future, we imagine the limitless possibilities for the Performing Arts Center and its surrounding district. From the potential transformation of underutilized spaces to the seamless integration of the Safe Credit Union Convention and Performing Arts District, we explore how strategic collaborations and funding are key to nurturing the next generation of arts professionals. By enhancing community engagement and reflecting the diverse population it serves, this district stands as a dynamic hub for cultural and creative activities, offering something for everyone.

To learn more about the SAFE CU Performing Arts Theater or the Performing Arts District visit the website: www.theSAFEdistrict.com

Chapter Summaries

(00:00) Revitalization of Performing Arts Venue
Revitalization of Safe Credit Union Performing Arts Center with upgrades like Constellation, fly rail system, and expanded truck dock.
(06:01) Memorial Auditorium's Historic Renovation and Usage
Laundry facility's essential role in performing arts center, community support, diverse events, and versatility showcased through partnerships.
(18:25) Community Use and Financial Support
The Performing Arts Center serves as a community hub, hosting diverse events and collaborating with local arts groups through strategic funding and sponsorships.
(28:59) Fostering Community Partnerships for Arts
Transforming spaces, activating the district, developing future professionals, and partnering with Safe Credit Union to enhance public engagement with the arts.
(43:18) District Integration for Arts Events
The Safe Credit Union Convention and Performing Arts District seamlessly integrate

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Transcript

 Allison Yee-Garcia: [00:00:00] Right. When you have these amazing organizations coming to your door asking for a donation, it's really hard to say no. But at the end of the day, when you can make an investment in a venue like the Performing Arts Center and Convention Center, the whole district, and really impact a very large group of performing arts nonprofits in a very meaningful way, by supporting and providing the state-of-the-art facility, your money goes a lot further.

Jeff Holden: Welcome to the Nonprofit Podcast Network Here, our purpose and passion are simple to highlight the incredible nonprofits that make our communities stronger. Each episode is a chance for these organizations to tell their story in their words. Sharing not just what they do, but why it matters to [00:01:00] the people they serve, to their supporters, and to all of us who believe in the power of community.

Through podcasting, we hope to amplify their voices, inspire connection, and give them one more tool to reach the hearts of donors, partners, and neighbors alike. This work is made possible through the generous support of our founding partners. CAPTRUST offering fiduciary advice for endowments and foundations serving Sacramento, Roseville, and Folsom and online@captrust.com and Western Health Advantage, a local not-for-profit health plan that believes healthcare is more than coverage.

It's about caring From supporting the American Heart Association to making arts and wellness accessible for all. Western Health Advantage truly delivers healthcare with heart. Learn more@westernhealth.com. I'm proud to welcome our newest partner, core executive leadership and comprehensive support services working in it, so you can [00:02:00] work on it.

Visit cx OR e.com. This episode is the finale of our month long tour of performing arts centers. We wrap with a story that sits right at the heart of Sacramento's cultural life. Four years after a pandemic era pause and a transformative renovation. The Safe Credit Union Performing Arts Center and the wider convention and performing arts district has become a dynamic center for our city, from Broadway runs and ballet to community galas and even pyrotechnics training.

The cast for this show also happens to be our largest group of the series. We've got three voices who make it all work. Sid Garcia Heiberger Performing Arts Center and Memorial Auditorium Manager, who knows every fly rail line set and backstage quick change. Megan Voes, director of the City's Convention and Cultural Services with a vision for [00:03:00] access, workforce and activation across the district and Alison y Garcia.

Senior Vice President of marketing and communications for Safe Credit Union, whose landmark naming partnership shows what bold community-minded investment can do at scale. We'll talk acoustics and accessibility budgets and big ideas, and how a civic stage becomes a place where generations make memories.

Sid Garcia Heiberger. Megan Van Vore and Allison Yee Garcia, welcome to the Nonprofit Podcast Network. 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: Thank you so much. Thank you. Happy to be here. 

Jeff Holden: It is so fun when we have three people in the studio. 'cause it's not that often that we get to do it, but it really changes the dynamic of the conversation.

And since we're actually gonna be talking about multiple venues too. That the city represents and that the Safe Credit Union supports, it'll [00:04:00] make that conversation even that much more complex. Yeah, 

Group: absolutely. 

Jeff Holden: I'm really looking forward to this. So it's been four years since the Safe Credit Union Performing Arts Center and the ancillary associated venues with it opened, which is so hard to believe, but it got caught up in that whole COVID thing and it, it.

Just dragged for a while and it was, was this gonna ever happen? And you'd go downtown and see the fencing and you know, please and win. And hopefully soon. And here we are now four years later, and it is a thriving change, you know, in the center of our city who wants to tackle a bit of the history of that performing arts center.

Sid Garcia-Heberger: Alright, I can tackle that. So the Safe Credit Union Performing Arts Center was originally called the Sacramento Community Center Theater. Mm-hmm. It was built in the [00:05:00] early seventies as a more modern performing arts center to the Memorial Auditorium, which was our original civic. Center for Performing Arts and events and all kinds of things.

The memorial is unique in that it's built to serve lots of purposes, so it has a movable floor that allows us to do, um, performing arts and music, as well as flat floor events like. Trade shows and food functions and sporting events, and the community was looking for something that was a little more modern and a smaller capacity that had the amenities.

Of that era, back of house things and dressing rooms, spaces and, and those sorts of things. So the community center theater was built and at that time things like the [00:06:00] seating was all continental. So it was all these long. Wide rows where if you came in on one side, but your seat was in the middle, you got to meet 30 people as you made your way to your seat.

Jeff Holden: God forbid you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of a performance. Exactly, 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: exactly. I always choose the aisle. Exactly. And it was originally opened with about 2,400 seats. And you know, the sensibility at the time was, let's just put everybody who has mobility issues at the back of the house in the back row.

And so it had some a DA challenges. It was under capacity in terms of lobby spaces, the dressing rooms needed expansion. And I have the unique perspective of, I've been in the market forever. Uh, I served on the downtown partnership board and I was. Good friends, well, an acquaintance of then Mayor Fargo, [00:07:00] who asked me to serve on a lot of committees and working groups and those sorts of things.

And so she had appointed me as her representative on the committee that was looking at renovating the community center theater. And that was in 1999. And what I didn't know at the time was that in 2019 when we closed the building for the renovation, that I would be managing the facility. So it's kind of fun or that you 

Jeff Holden: even still be here doing that.

Right? Exactly. 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: Exactly. So it was kind of a fun, kind, kind of. Turnabout of events. So when we renovated the building, we were addressing accessibility issues for performers as well as patrons lobby spaces. But we wanted to keep the venue where it was in the center of downtown, near parking and near restaurants and other [00:08:00] amenities.

And then of course, within our. District because there's a economy of scale when you have, you know, an operation running multiple venues. Mm-hmm. And so those were all of the kinds of things that we addressed when we renovated and reopened as the Safe Credit Union Performing Arts Center. And 

Jeff Holden: so the next logical question is the physical elements that changed with.

The theater. Tell us a little bit about its state of the Artness. 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: Sure. So we added a, an electro acoustical shell called constellation, tore address acoustical issues. We put in a new fly rail system. We added a 

Jeff Holden: fly rail system is 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: oh, a fly rail system, sorry. Inside baseball Uhhuh. Um, a fly rail system are the ropes and pulleys.

That are used to bring in sets, fly out lights, fly in [00:09:00] things. Mm-hmm. Um, so there's a, a line set system I think we have. 15. We have more than 59 line sets. Okay. Um, so we can bring in and out sets. Um, we use them for hanging soft goods or drapery. Uh, so anyway, we put in a brand new line set. We also put in a.

A lot more stage power, a three truck dock, which is, you know, be still my beating heart. We had a one truck dock previously, so that was a big improvement. Our laundry facility for wardrobe is now we have our washers and our dryers on the same level. That was a huge win 

Jeff Holden: and I think many people, we don't think about that as that's an issue.

You have a washers and dryers. Well of course you have these performances on top of performances multiple times in a night. Sometimes, yes. Where I would imagine yes, it's absolutely necessary. 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: That's right. And we have seamstresses and stitchers and there's, [00:10:00] you know, there's hand washing that has to happen for some of the more delicate pieces.

And then, you know, big laundry that that happens. And you know, for the performers are dancing, they're moving swiftly and. You know, past each other and past, past set pieces. So sometimes things get torn or, and things need to be repaired, and all of that is happening. While the show is in-house and like looking backstage, it's something like a Nutcracker is just absolutely fascinating to just see like, you know, the costume pieces and like the rat heads and rows and rows of rat heads and my favorite, the, what is it?

Gingerbread the. Oh, oh gosh. With the big, the, the giant hoop skirt. I know it's called different things in different versions of the Nutcracker. Yes. But we, we, that is a, a giant costume piece, and so we actually take a chain [00:11:00] motor and we hang it above everything just to. To get it out of the way. 

Jeff Holden: And what's, what's the seating capacity now?

Sid Garcia-Heberger: The seating capacity now with the pit seated is 2,188. That's a lot of people. It is a lot of people in, in a 

Jeff Holden: good way. And I, I mean that very positively because as we've gone through the sequence of performing arts theaters, this is the largest, this is the pinnacle of the conversation. Wrapping our month of.

Theater discussions and, and rightfully so, because it is the greatest centerpiece for the community. And Allison really uniquely is it's named by a commercial entity. 

Group: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Which I know at one point, or at that point at least, it was the largest contract for a naming rights in the city ever. 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: That's right.

Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: And that, that's a big, big deal. Do you want to speak a little bit to that, [00:12:00] what it means to Safe Credit Union and how it aligns with the performing arts center? 

Allison Yee-Garcia: Yeah. I mean, you know, I think the credit union industry in general, and certainly safe specifically, is really uniquely positioned to support civic amenities like a performing arts center convention center, because we are chartered and we exist to serve the community.

That is, you know, we are also not-for-profit and so we have, you know, really at the heart of. Of safe certainly is a mission and a purpose to be there for the people of the greater Sacramento community. And what better way to do that to ensure that such a unique amenity and space is available for our members and for the greater community to enjoy.

Mm-hmm. And so it's a really, um, you know. Fantastic way for us to live our mission, to serve our members, to bring value, and to ensure that the community that we serve kind of continues to thrive. I think, [00:13:00] you know, on a more specific note for safe. Going back, you know, many, many years there has always been a dedication to the arts.

And I think, you know, I, I joined Safe Credit Union a few years ago and it was really interesting for me to kinda like, dive in and understand the culture of the organization and why an investment like this was so, you know, uniquely positioned. Alongside our, our values as an organization. I come at it from the perspective of, you know, whether you are a patron of the arts or a big supporter personally, it's really hard to imagine a thriving community without a thriving art scene.

Right? Whether you personally appreciate it or not. I think, you know, we look at it as an investment in a thriving. Community and you know, kind of, all right, what's the phrase? All rising tides lift all boats. Yes. Right. And so for us to continue to see our [00:14:00] members thrive in the communities thrive, we like to invest in things that that will bring that kind of broad impact.

Jeff Holden: I would imagine to some degree, an exposure that they may not have had otherwise. Yeah. Yeah. They just didn't know. And maybe they're suburban. Don't realize that there's all this neat activity that takes place in the core of the city. Yes. Which is what we all really want to see. 

Group: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: So I, I applaud you for that.

That's a thanks. It's a really neat way to look at it from a different perspective with an angle that supports so much in the city. 

Group: Yeah, absolutely. 

Jeff Holden: How about the usage of the facility? It, obviously we know it, it houses plays and, and things of that nature. And, and I'll let you address the organizations 'cause I, I want you to say them, but also as a community resource.

Sid Garcia-Heberger: Sure. So I think everybody knows that the, the facility houses five non-profit. Performing Arts groups, Broadway, Sacramento, the [00:15:00] Sacramento Ballet, Sacramento, Phil Harmonic and Opera, Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra, and the Sacramento Speaker Series. But then in filling that usage, we have concerts, comedy shows.

Other kinds of lectures. Sometimes we do general sessions that are happening, that they're ancillary to maybe something that's happening at the convention center. We've also been able, with this renovation, we're able to do receptions in the lobby spaces. We did one where we did a vertical event where. It started with appetizers in the L street lobby, then a dinner in the main lobby, and then up to the donor's lounge for dessert.

Jeff Holden: Oh, how neat. And 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: that was a really, really fun event, and it was my idea.[00:16:00] 

What great exposure to 

Jeff Holden: all the assets of the facility though. Absolutely. 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: And so, and as you moved up through the venue, when you get up to the donor's lounge, it's now in dark outside. You can see out into the Capitol park across the way. And so it just was. Pretty magical. And recently in June we did a Michelin event and that, and that again was another thing where we really pressed the capabilities and the, the capabilities and some of the limitations of the, of the venue.

And it was a really exciting event. And I learned a lot during that process. 'cause there were a lot of things that we just hadn't ever. Attempted before, 

Jeff Holden: and I'm gonna imagine, you know, four years only in, there's a lot more that you are going to learn as you go through about its capabilities and you know, what stresses it, what really is exposure to it that you hadn't thought of.

Sid Garcia-Heberger: Yes, it's just 

Jeff Holden: gonna [00:17:00] keep coming and probably absolutely without some it from the outside in. 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: Absolutely. Or you just don't think of those 

Jeff Holden: things. 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: Right. Always excited when we hear from a group that wants to do something that's, that we haven't done before because it gives us an opportunity to kind of press our knowledge of the building.

And that also to, it's, it's exciting to do new things. We do a lot of things that are, you know, annual events and those are, are also wonderful because they're tradition and we get to see, you know. Our, our friends in the community who enjoy those traditional events, but, but doing new, unique things, is it, it keeps things fresh.

You know, I've been doing this for a minute, and so being able to tackle new things like a Memorial auditorium, we did huge. For broadcast wrestling, entertainment, wrestling event. And it was, it was a big boy, lemme [00:18:00] tell you 

Jeff Holden: not to mention Big boys in there. Yes, 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: yes. But it was one of the most exciting events that I've, I've done in my career.

Jeff Holden: Yeah. And certainly Memorial Auditorium is an iconic 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: Venue in the city. People refer to it. My first concert, I saw The Stones, I saw Jimi Hendrix, I saw you, you name it back. I 

Group: graduated 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: from high school. 

Jeff Holden: At Memorial Auditorium. At Memorial 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: Auditorium, Devo, December, 1981. Oh, 

Group: I love it. I love it. 

Megan Van Voorhis: I do.

Well, I, I'd wanna speak to that, 'cause I do think that that's one of the things that just I've heard over time. Is that it's really thinking about the Memorial Auditorium as a place where people make memories. You know, they have memories, they make memories. And, and for me that I think the understanding that that facility is, is, is about to turn a hundred years old in 2027, and we're thinking about what that celebration looks like.

But I do think that experience for folks like families and traditions that, you know, to [00:19:00] passed down in whatever way, there were people who became. United States citizens there. Mm-hmm. Yes. There are people who graduated high school there that saw these shows that competed. Yeah. You know, into dance.

Absolutely. Uh, dance competitions and huge things like that. And so. I think for us it's really important to sort of acknowledge the importance of that history as a place of memory and a and as we look forward, what new memories are we making in that facility for new generations in this community, 

Jeff Holden: which is so neat to think that you have these generational memories being made mm-hmm.

From back in the day, you know, whether near forties, fifties, sixties, boxing matches, concerts, big band I mm-hmm. I mean, all of that was there. And you have to contemporize it and, and keep the facility safe, which has been done now several times over the course of, its, its lifetime. And, and to be clear, so, so the listeners going, wait, you're talking about Memorial Auditorium?

We're talking about the performing arts district, basically. Mm-hmm. [00:20:00] And so there's, you know, the performing arts center, which is at the convention center on the campus of the convention center, and that's the, the granddaddy. That's the big, big, big facility, but not to be. Sized differently. 'cause Memorial Auditorium will hold equally as many people in some cases, right?

Syd? 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: Yes, it will hold up to 4,000 if it's just an 

Jeff Holden: op, 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: an open floor show. 

Jeff Holden: So not to be, you know, a shrinking violet here. That's a huge facility as well, both. Underneath the umbrella of, you know, the, the Safe Credit Unions performing Arts district, so to speak. So we'll kind of talk back and forth about those as we go.

What about community involvement, collaboration with the facilities? What does that look like? 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: So we used to refer to the area as the. Convention Center complex, and with the naming right sponsorship, we rebranded everything and to become the Safe Credit [00:21:00] Union Convention and Performing Arts District.

District. Mm-hmm. So it encompasses those. The convention aspect of our district and the performing arts aspect of the district. We have a, a common team of attendance, engineers, stage hands, who work in all of the. The facilities, some of us have specific disciplines related specifically to the convention center or related specifically to the performing art center, but we still cross disciplines in some, in some ways.

For instance, we've had, we had the California. 

Megan Van Voorhis: Oh, the, uh, arts Culture and cre Creative Economy Summit. There we go with California. And so that event 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: took place at both the Memorial Auditorium and within the convention center space. And so I was the, the lead on coordinating the needs for that event in both [00:22:00] the Memorial Auditorium and the convention center.

It takes me a little out of my comfort zone, but again, I like doing new things because it keeps me. Engaged and there's a, another event that we do, it's a junior theater festival. So again, going back to like bringing, um, bringing up the new generation of, of attendees and of performers. And that's another event that takes place at the Memorial Auditorium and at the convention center and the, there's a convention center supervisor, event supervisor who will.

Has the lead on that particular event. So they're working within the convention center, which is kind of their normal course of work, but then they're expanding out into the Memorial Auditorium because it just makes sense to have one person coordinating. For them. 

Jeff Holden: And how neat do they have the options?

Sid Garcia-Heberger: [00:23:00] Well, again, going back to the primary users of the Performing Arts Center, those are all community based organizations. They're, you know, they all Sacramento, ballet Sacramento, and all nonprofits. Yes. Philharmonic and Opera. So there's, there's a lot of collaboration between those groups and the venue, the team that.

Operates the venue, and then of course the, the folks that are bringing those shows into the venue. We meet frequently. We have lots of conversations. They'll come to us with, you know, this show has a weird one for you. And it's like, yay. We love weird ones. Broadway, Sacramento. We're always joking about like.

Like right now we're doing a massive confetti drop, and so we're always joking about like wig sinks and confetti drops and pyrotechnics and 

Group: Yeah, 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: and all of those things are all new challenges. Right. You [00:24:00] know, you don't set things on fire on a stage with 2100 people in the room lightly. You don't take stuff like that lightly.

So 

Jeff Holden: how about outside of, let's say. The obvious of schools and graduations. Mm-hmm. Are there other organizations that might say, Hey, can we use the facility for something like maybe it's a Big Brothers Big Sisters looking for an opportunity to do something differently, or with some of the larger organizations or smaller based on the breakouts?

'cause you have breakout. At, you know, the Gene Run Theater Memorial Auditorium. So I was 

Megan Van Voorhis: gonna, we've done some things with summer 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: camps. Yes, yes, that's right. We have done that sort of things with, with summer camps that are around the performing arts and performances, music, dance. Big Brothers Big Sisters did an event where.

Kids were brought in to be able to see a ballet performance with an experience, and that was something that [00:25:00] Safe spearheaded for us. Yeah, I was just gonna go there because of your, and that was a really terrific event and an opportunity for families to come and experience not only the performance, but kind of VIP.

Treatment. Mm-hmm. As well. Mm-hmm. The Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera has a program called Link Up, where they bring in students, thousands of students with recorders, and they play along in the auditorium to the music that's happening on the stage. And there's a whole program. Within their schools where they're preparing for that experience over the course of many weeks before they come to us with the culminating event that occurs at the Performing Arts Center.

Exactly what I was looking 

Jeff Holden: for. And I remember Juliano talking about that. We had him in here, uh, a few months ago. Just talking about Phil Harmonic E Exactly. Those things you really, types of things have lived 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: until you've experienced 2100 children with reporters. Reporters. 

Jeff Holden: I can only imagine. Right. 

Megan Van Voorhis: I [00:26:00] think, um, just what I'll add to that, aside from a lot of, a lot of folks to their galas at the memorial, 'cause it's just such a beautiful, iconic venue.

Both inside and outside, but some of the creative things that we've seen, you know, I was walking out of the convention center a couple of weeks ago and I, I looked to the left and I'm like, what are all of these fire folks doing here? Mm-hmm. Um, I'm worried, but they were doing pyrotechnics training inside the facility and we see a lot of that kind of activity going on.

Mm-hmm. And even, you know, our partners. In stage hands, I see Local 50 who will come in and they'll do their trainings within our facilities because of what we have to offer. And so I think even the things that are just going on behind the scenes that are making everyone safe and making the experience as dynamic as it is, we're the training ground for some of that work.

And I think that's pretty exciting role to 

Jeff Holden: play in community and, and that is community, that's the collaboration. When that venue's available, how often is it in use? How many days? They use, is there a number that you, or is there a, a metric that you call [00:27:00] it? 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: So at the performing arts center, we're running at about 70% of capacity.

Jeff Holden: Okay. 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: That does include shows as well as rehearsal and load ins. Thinking about something like a single performance of an opera, there might be nine or 10 days of preparation in the facility before that single performance. So we. It's kind of anticlimactic once it's like, darn, it's over. Right. But that's just kind of the nature of those shows is it takes that long to put it in, do the rehearsals, and then actually have the performance.

Yeah, 

Jeff Holden: the actual performance, which is the smallest part of it. Probably in some cases, everything else. Is the prep getting up to it. 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: Yes, yes. But then you also have, you know, big Broadway shows where we'll load the whole thing in in. A day and a half and you know, we'll unload 13 trucks over [00:28:00] the course of, you know, 48 hours and bang off a show in eight, you know, eight performances.

Jeff Holden: Right. Well it's 'cause you have a three truck dock now. 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: That's right. 

Jeff Holden: Best thing ever. In terms of the actual usage, you know, people tend to think of theaters and or these performing arts centers, well, this is good. You've got your ticket price and that pays for it. And I mean, nothing could be further from the truth as we know.

There's just so much more that goes into it. The ticket price is really just a very small piece of it. When it's somebody like the Phil Harmonic and or. The ballet and as we look at how the organization is funded. Are they like a fee for service? Do they pay for the usage and then the ticket prices go to them?

Or does it come to the box office and then there's a distribution? Is it, is it everyone negotiated separately? 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: So yes, there is. There is a fee [00:29:00] that the performing arts groups or any user pays to use the facility. The ticket revenue belongs to the group that's putting. On the event, I think that the statistic that I've heard in the past is that ticket revenue is about 65%, although nonprofit groups.

Mm-hmm. Budget. Mm-hmm. So there's still that 35% that has to be closed with sponsorships and other ancillary income. For our, for our nonprofits, we do. We are partners with them. And so we do, uh, work with them closely on controlling costs, um, having amenities within the venue so that they don't have to go out and 

Group: mm-hmm.

Sid Garcia-Heberger: Purchase, rent, bring them in, rent, et cetera. So that's kind of ha the. Dollars and cents of it. 

Allison Yee-Garcia: I will just add too, look, at least from a [00:30:00] funder's perspective, another one of the reasons why investing in something like the Performing Arts Center is really interesting. When you think about it from, you know, the business or the funder angle, there's a tendency to want to support a lot of organizations with smaller donations because it's really hard to say no.

When you have these amazing organizations coming to your door asking for a donation, it's really hard to say no. But at the end of the day, when you can make an investment in a venue like the Performing Arts Center and Convention Center, the whole district, and really impact a very large group of performing arts nonprofits in a very meaningful way by supporting and providing the state-of-the-art facility.

Your money goes a lot further, right? Mm-hmm. Like you're doing some really impactful and meaningful work when you're giving money at scale in that way. So like, I guess my PSA for funders [00:31:00] out there is, you know, don't be afraid to like look for those big opportunities to make those big impacts because we.

Are just so proud to be able to impact the arts community at scale, right? Mm-hmm. And this is one of the best ways to do that. 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: Well, in speaking of being at scale, because we are a district, we have the benefit of the convention center, which is a large. Money maker for the community. It has a huge economic impact.

And because we're all part of that same district, that that gives us the opportunity to be supportive in other ways that are activating of the district, but not necessarily. 

Megan Van Voorhis: Money maker. Yes. And so I'll just like add in as an example. We did, we were just talking about this like some history programming within the Gene Runyan little theater.

I mean, we've done some events [00:32:00] inside of the lobby, you know, the performing arts center and up in the donor's lounge and things like that. And so I think that's the, the real future opportunity for us. When you look at, you know, we are a district and, and we. We do bring a lot of people into the city core, which I think is really critical at this time and always.

So I think that that's really exciting and where there's enormous amount of opportunity and we've been talking about how do we do that and how do we, how do we build the next generation 

Group: mm-hmm. Of 

Megan Van Voorhis: promoters and presenters and, and, you know, stage workers and professionals and, and all of that. And I think that, that the district really represents what could be the ground for where that happens.

Jeff Holden: To be certain the contribution in those naming rights also helps support and fund Yeah. That, that does go into the bigger pot, so to speak, of, of the funding of, of the district and Absolutely. And the buildings. Right. I mean, that's a, I'm like, right, there's, there's a, [00:33:00] there's a reason all things 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: are possible 

Jeff Holden: with money.

That's right. There are reasons for millions of dollars on the side of a building, right? That's right. It does do that. What is the, the overall budget that you work with? 

Megan Van Voorhis: Yeah, so our total departmental budget is about 31.7 million. About, you can drop the seven up, the 30 million. I think about, I think about 85% of that departmental budget goes to.

Goes to the Safe Credit Union Convention and Performing Arts District and incorporates all of our revenues. So yeah, it's a big, it's a big, mm-hmm. It's a big thing with mm-hmm. Hundreds of people that we employ to keep that thing moving. I was just gonna ask, how many 

Jeff Holden: people are employed roughly? 

Megan Van Voorhis: So, in total, in the department, we have 125 FTEs.

Okay. Across, and most of those, again, serving in both full-time capacities within the Convention Performing Arts district, but also, you know, people that just might wanna be an usher. And come and see a show and have that as a benefit of what they do. 

Jeff Holden: Sure. So, 

Megan Van Voorhis: yeah. 

Jeff Holden: In terms of volunteers, do [00:34:00] you have volunteers at the center or is, is it that.

Sticks with the actual nonprofit itself. That is 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: right. We work with a lot of volunteers, but those volunteers are volunteering for the organization of the organization who are using our spaces, and that could be anything from a performing arts group to, we have a foundation that does a a meditation event on occasion, and so they bring in a huge number of volunteers to help operate.

The venue seat people and, and those sorts of things. Mm-hmm. So, but, but we ourselves don't have any in, in the district anyway. We don't have any volunteers 

Jeff Holden: before our performers take the final bow on our series. Please take a moment to hear from the people who make this program possible. I'm speaking with Darrell Tet, CEO of Core.

Welcome to our Family of Partners. 

Darrell Teat: Thank you so much, Jeff. We are really excited to be part of the [00:35:00] family and contribute to the work that you all are doing. 

Jeff Holden: What is Core all about? 

Darrell Teat: Core provides fractional and interim executive services along with comprehensive back office. So. They go into our client sites and do the work to give them the capacity they need in order to move through transitions, whether that's planned or unplanned, or companies also work with our accounting and finance, back office solutions, human resources, technology, and administration.

Jeff Holden: Why are these services such a lifesaver for small and mid-size organizations? 

Darrell Teat: Great question, Jeff. The reason why our back office solutions add value is because we save them time and money anywhere from 20 to 30% of what they would spend on that back office solution. We work in it so they can actually work on it.

Jeff Holden: I have to believe that there's somebody right now listening and thinking, I could use that kind of help. What's the best way to get in touch with you, Darel? 

Darrell Teat: The best way is at our website, cx OR e.com, and contact me directly at DTE [00:36:00] a t@cxoe.com. 

Jeff Holden: Darrell, thank you for your investment and commitment to supporting our messaging.

And if you're interested in learning more about how CORE may help your organization, visit CXOR e.com. 

Scott Thomas: Hello, this is Scott Thomas with CAPTRUST in our Sacramento office. I specialize in working with local nonprofits and associations annually. We survey private and public nonprofit organizations across the country to better understand challenges they see in today's environment.

In our more recent survey, we hear concerns about proper board governance, mission aligned investment, and how to implement alternative investments. If you would like a copy of the survey or to discuss your organization, look me up, scottThomas@captrust.com. At Western Health 

Jeff Holden: Advantage, healthcare isn't just a service, it's a shared value.

As a nonprofit leader, you need a health plan that understands the important of [00:37:00] mission-driven work. Western Health Advantage is a local not-for-profit health plan that supports organizations like yours with affordable, flexible coverage options for your team. What truly sets them apart is their commitment to community supporting nonprofits like the American Heart Association, Sacramento Ballet, and the Crocker Art Museums Pay what you wish Sundays with access to top tier providers and dedicated local support.

Western Health advantages more than a health plan. It's a partner in your purpose. Explore your options today@westernhealth.com. Western Health Advantage, healthcare with Heart designed for those who give back. In terms of looking forward, as we're having that conversation a little earlier, obviously budget limits everything.

If budget. Weren't an option and safe said, look, we have a great idea in continuing support. 

Group: Ooh, budget's not an option for me too. That's, [00:38:00] let's go, let's go. No, this is all, this is all inclusive 

Jeff Holden: and, and if the idea's right, here's what we would do. What would that look like? What would the idea be? What would you see?

What would be different? 

Megan Van Voorhis: Yeah. I love this. The idea to paint a picture, I mean the, you know, there are still parts of the performing arts center in particular that are not complete, you know, and so as we look around. There was a idea for a community room, and I go, oh, wouldn't that be just an awesome like black box, small space to kind of meet the needs of, of things.

And in general, you know, we, we think about performing arts in these facilities, but you know, like the Memorial Auditorium, it is big and it, it, it's history tells us what its future could be, right? Like, even though things have changed around us, we can look back at that. I mean, what is a modern day circus now?

Used to have a lot of elephants and other things, you know, on that floor and, and what it, what could those kinds of experience really bring, or even exhibitions. We have [00:39:00] experiences with that and I think we're looking forward to, to adding to that realm of the arts and cultural sector. And here I think there's an enormous amount of opportunity there, really activating the full breadth.

The image that you have there with the, on the backside of the performing arts center or in the, in the Plaza area. Mm-hmm. Has a stage, you know, I didn't even know that. 

Group: And it's, so that was actually in my head. I was like, oh, budget's not like, let's do the plaza. Like what am I doing in the plaza programming and the plaza 

Megan Van Voorhis: and in events and things like that.

So across the district, I mean, we're, we're really thinking creatively about, and as I said it before, what does the next generation. Of presenters and promoters really look like and how do we help them? And some of them are doing that work now and have had a tough time working with us. And I think we've, we've creating new programs to really make more possible for that group just because of broader industry dynamics.

And I think in general creates like, hey. What is, uh, I've heard, you know, of 10 minute operas [00:40:00] being produced in other places. Could those 10 minute operas be happening, you know, at the Performing Arts center or in the Onion or, or on the Plaza or things like that? And I think that, you know, we have staff definitely to keep, that's the city's responsibility.

We do that through our earned revenue and all of those other things. But outside of that, really. I think it would be amazing to see more large scale exhibitions going on at the memorial and greater cross creative projection type things going on in our buildings that just attract people to, to the city core and help them engage with all of the other businesses that rely on us.

And I think that's the most important thing just moving forward in terms of vision. Mm-hmm. Is recognizing that we are a significant asset. For so many businesses and communities and people that rely on us. And so what we do really impacts so much more. And so there's a huge responsibility that comes with that to make sure that both the, the community feels reflected in the programs that are happening.

[00:41:00] Because in, in reality, these are the people's buildings. So we need to make sure that they reflect, you know, all of the people. And I think, I think we, we do that and we can do more of that. So it's, it's quite exciting. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. I think from that perspective, for people to hear that and realize, oh, maybe I should get a little bit more engaged because it is our community's mm-hmm.

Facility and what can we do differently and what don't. We know that we can't, we, we can do, we just don't know it yet. 'cause we haven't exercised that thought process to see what's there. And if you haven't been there, you can't start. So I think that's a great way to look at it. Now if we bring it back into reality today where we are, what, what is the greatest need that you guys see?

Sid Garcia-Heberger: Well, I think Megan touched on it. It's the, the need to look at how we develop the. Professionals of the future, whether it's a, a sound engineer or a stage hand, or a carpenter [00:42:00] or a concert promoter or a dancer, and there is a gap there that. We do our best to support through those programs, supporting those training programs and, and making our facilities available for those types of activities.

And, you know, how do we. Assure new promoters through a process to help them because this, this industry is largely a trade. Mm-hmm. It's not like you go and you get a degree, you can get a degree in theater, but most of the. The people that I work with are people who they, I started out at a concession stand as an example.

So that's, you know, building that, that future workforce and, you know, there's a gap, I think partly because we're isolated. Mm-hmm. Um, we're in our [00:43:00] homes, on our computers, on the internet. Playing games. I see young people who are not particularly interested in going to concerts, but they may be really super engaged if we involve them in the nuts and bolts of actually putting on a show.

So I think that's a, a, a great need going forward. 

Jeff Holden: You have a unique relationship with an entity in in Safe Credit Union. How does that maybe play in, and where I'm going with this, Allison, is the ability that you've got through your constituents, your membership 

Group: mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: To speak to them on behalf of, you know, in cooperation with 

Group: Yeah.

Jeff Holden: Or in collaboration with the elements that take place at the performing arts centers and or, you know, back of house stuff that you were talking about, [00:44:00] but also front of house. Awareness. Mm-hmm. You have a great platform, which makes this really an interesting dynamic 'cause a lot of people don't have that wherewithal to get it out to, I don't know what the membership is, 

Allison Yee-Garcia: about 220,000 members.

Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: Two who can, who else can get to 200 and some thousand people with a message about what's happening at the theater. 

Allison Yee-Garcia: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: You know? And opportunities and en engagement. How does that work? Amongst you. 

Allison Yee-Garcia: Yeah. You know, it's, it's something that, especially when I joined Safe a few years ago, it was kind of one of my first questions of like, well, what are, what are we doing to support the performing arts center and what are we doing to support, you know, ever all the programming that's happening there?

And, and they were kind of just starting to dip their toes into it. Right. The center had just opened, it was open for about a year. And, and so I think in the last three years we've really done some pretty incredible expansion of that partnership and found some really, I think, important and [00:45:00] creative ways to collaborate.

We're really proud to be able to offer our members discounts right through, um, through a lot of the performing arts organizations that are, that are kind of residents at the performing arts center. You know, whether it's access to exclusive pre-sales or discounts on certain shows and events that are coming in.

Safe Credit Union members get concession discounts, you know, 10% discount if you use your debit or your. Credit card. So those are all ways that we can really tell a compelling story to our members about what this partnership means for them, and, and then in turn drive ticket sales and interest and exposure for some of the work that's happening there.

We also have a really active community impact group at Safe Credit Union, and we have partnerships with other community based and nonprofit organizations too. So trying to find some synergies and opportunities to partner in that space is really fun too. Like the. Big Brothers, big Sisters, right? Like Boys and Girls Club.

Boys and [00:46:00] Girls Club. Boys and Girls Club partnership that we had relative to the ballet. So there's all kinds of ways that we can kind of find some mutual benefit and value and drive a lot of, you know, interest in the performing arts center and value for our members. Mm-hmm. Which is really fun. 

Megan Van Voorhis: I, and I would just add to that I think that the best partnerships really leverage everybody's strengths and assets.

And so, you know, I look at Safe Credit Union and I say, you know, on the other side of my department, not the Convention and Performing Arts district, we're serving and funding creative people. Mm-hmm. Who. Who have needs that really can go unmet by traditional banking. Yep. You know, take for example, that performer in the Sacramento, Phil Harmonic and Opera, who needs a certain kind of instrument and you know, how do, what does it look like to have, you know, musical instrument loans?

I will tell you, I know that that's the first loan that they pay because that's the instrument that pays the bills. 

Allison Yee-Garcia: Yeah. 

Megan Van Voorhis: But how do we think creatively about those kinds of opportunities that are out there to bring [00:47:00] more. Strength to the arts and cultural sector, to the creative economy, to the partnership.

Yeah, to the community. I think that's a real opportunity for 

Allison Yee-Garcia: us. I was even thinking, you know, listening to you all talk about the workforce development needs for the industry, there are some very unique financial education needs. Mm-hmm. For individuals that work in trades for the creative, you know, folks for performers.

You know, the way that their income kind of ebbs and flows and comes in and goes away and paying for insurance and, and kind of all of that is very different than what, you know, traditional financial education would teach relative to budgeting and saving and, and that kind of stuff. So, I mean, we haven't had this conversation, but coming to the table and saying Right here.

Yeah. And saying like, Hey, let's. Develop some custom curriculum to support these populations so that if, you know, I think a lot of times when you're looking [00:48:00] at, at these trades, it's, well, you know, is it going to provide the financial stability that I need to someday raise a family or to, you know, someday buy a home or whatever it might be.

And if you have the financial education to say, Hey, yes it can, right? And here's how, and this is how it's different. It's different. Not. Worse. It's just different, right? Mm-hmm. We can create some tools to help tell that story and make it more meaningful for people. Right. Yeah, and I mean, I love the idea of doing cus custom products and services to serve some of these pockets and populations because that's like the other part of, of, I mean it is what we do, right, is it's the product and service aspect.

But as a credit union, like we have the flexibility and again, we have, we are. Obligated and mission driven to serve in those ways. Mm-hmm. Right. 

Jeff Holden: That's another element on the activation checklist of That's right. How we're gonna engage the sponsorship. 

Allison Yee-Garcia: Yes, that's [00:49:00] right. I mean, it's 

Jeff Holden: just a beautiful synergy.

Allison Yee-Garcia: Yeah. In 

Jeff Holden: terms of who, who it benefits. 

Allison Yee-Garcia: Yeah, absolutely. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. Very good. Well, we'll follow up on that. 

Allison Yee-Garcia: That's right. 

Jeff Holden: That, that's a news pod in the future of how, 

Group: how 

Jeff Holden: it all worked out. How does one, I mean we've got three, two entities and three parties. I could get confused on how well I want to find out about X, Y, Z here or x, y, z.

There is, is there a uniform places or one spot where, where does somebody go to learn about everything that's happening? 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: Probably the best resource is to go to our website, which is the safe district.com that will, that branches out to. Anything that's happening at the Performing Arts Center, the Memorial Auditorium, the Gene Runyon, and then any public events that are happening at the convention center.

And it's also a resource for people who may want to use our facilities or be an exhibitor in our facility. Beautiful. So [00:50:00] that's the kind of the one stop shop, 

Jeff Holden: thus safe district.com? 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: Correct. 

Jeff Holden: Okay. That conjures up a lot of different images too. Yeah, right. Which I like. 

Sid Garcia-Heberger: Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: You know, in, in a positive way.

Well, having a facility, or I should say facilities where the primary sponsor is as visible, if not more so than the theaters and the performances that take place, is really something that's a wonderful testament to all of you involved, because that's unique and it's novel and it does something different for our community, for our city that we don't see every place.

And I know it was a big deal when it happened. It's a bigger deal now that it's. Engaged and it's here and we're using it and we're seeing it in all its glory to so many different ways and so many different uses. So for the novelty and the, what's the word I want to use, the the thought process that went into.

Safe decision to do something this large, on such a [00:51:00] big scale. You know, I, I applaud the, the credit union for doing that and for you guys, for bringing what you bring every day with your 135 ish people that make what Sacramento needs really visible and stand out in such a a, a wonderful way. Thank you for everything you do.

Sid Garcia-Heberger: Thank you. 

Jeff Holden: Thank you for listening to the Nonprofit Podcast Network. We hope today's episode inspired you and gave you a deeper look into the work of our local nonprofits. If you believe in our mission to amplify their voices, please take a moment to leave us a positive review and share this episode with a friend.

It helps more people discover the incredible work happening in our community. Don't miss future episodes. Subscribe to our weekly updates and monthly newsletter@nonprofitpod.com. And if you're part of a nonprofit that would like to be featured, we'd love to hear from you. Just visit the guest tab on our website.[00:52:00] 

The nonprofit podcast Network is recorded and produced at Hear Now Studio with generous support from our founding partners, captrust, fiduciary advice for endowments and foundations serving Sacramento, Roseville, and Folsom. And online@captrust.com and Western Health Advantage local care Community impact.

Find the plan that fits@westernhealth.com and to our newest partner, core Interim and fractional Executive Leadership, comprehensive Back Office support Services. We work in it so you can work on it. Visit CX OR [00:53:00] e.com.