In Wednesday’s (6/9) Seattle Times, Janet I. Tu writes, “In one of the largest gifts to an arts or cultural organization in this area, the Tateuchi Foundation is giving $25 million toward the creation of a 2,000-seat performance center in downtown Bellevue—a longtime dream of some Eastside leaders. The gift reinvigorates the capital campaign for what was formerly called the Performing Arts Center Eastside (PACE), and will now be called the Tateuchi Center. … There have been various attempts to build such a center for decades, and in 2002, a group of prominent Eastside business and civic leaders formed a nonprofit board to start raising money for it. … With the Tateuchi Foundation gift, the center has raised $60 million toward its $160 million goal, and organizers expect the contribution to spur other donors. Organizers hope to break ground in summer 2011 and to open in September 2013. … In addition to the 2,000-seat concert hall, where the space can be adjusted to accommodate smaller audiences, there will be a 250-seat, cabaret-style venue. Janis Wold, board president of Bellevue Philharmonic, says performing in a large venue is more cost-effective than performing at Meydenbauer Center, and would allow the orchestra to increase its audience.” The Theatre at Meydenbauer Center holds 410.
Posted June 11, 2010
