Morrison Center Hosts 30,000 Patrons for Free Performances

The Velma V. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts announced a milestone regarding free events presented for the community. During the 2016 calendar year, the Center hosted 27 free, public events for a total attendance of over 30,000 patrons. The Center presented three elite military bands plus the popular Canadian Brass. Many other performances were presented by local groups and funded in part by the Morrison Center Endowment Foundation. Free performances funded by the Foundation included: Ballet Idaho, Boise Music Week , Boise Philharmonic, Boise Valley Chordsmen, Idaho Shakespeare Festival and Wassmuth Center for Human Rights. Boise State University's President's Office, Music Department, Honors College, New Student Programs, and others also provided free programs to the community. Please note that these statistics do not include the many hundreds of complimentary tickets the Morrison Center and the Morrison Center Endowment Foundation give away through annual outreach efforts to schools, local nonprofits and children and families in need.

"The Founders' of the Morrison Center wanted the Center to be the 'Peoples' Theatre,'" said James Patrick, Executive Director of the Morrison Center. He continued, "2016 provided a wide range of free offerings including classical, big band, jazz, family, lectures and inspirational genres. The Morrison Center and the Morrison Center Endowment Foundation are both having a significant impact on the local arts scene. Since 2011, the Endowment has awarded over $2 million and these local grants expand the Center's programming while also providing increased access and opportunity to the facility."

The Morrison Center Endowment Foundation's goal is to impact quality performances at Idaho's premier performing arts center. The Endowment Foundation does this by partnering to underwrite the operating and capital expenses of the Velma V. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts if needed, subsidizing production costs for Idaho's local arts groups and sponsoring performances of high-quality national and International Artists.

The Morrison Center was recently named the #2 University Venue in the nation for its size (5,000 seats or less) by Venues Today Magazine and is consistently ranks in the top 100 theatres for world-wide ticket sales by Pollstar Magazine (both respected industry publications). Both designations are based on ticket sales or gross box office receipts.

VELMA V. MORRISON CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Located on the campus of Boise State University, the 2,037-seat Velma V. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts is Idaho's premier performing arts center. Nestled on the banks of the Boise River, with a panoramic view of the city, parks and foothills, the Center's 10-story stage house is a recognizable fixture of the Capitol's picturesque skyline. The realization of a life-long dream of Harry W. Morrison, and championed by his widow, Velma, the Center opened its doors on April 7, 1984. Today the Center is recognized as a major destination for arts and culture, annually hosting hundreds of live entertainment and arts education offerings that serve to enrich the lives of patrons of all ages. As a Boise State affiliate, the Center is a non-profit organization supported by ticket sales, facility rentals, donations and the generous support of the Morrison Center Endowment Foundation, Inc. For more information on our programs, or to find out how you can play an active role in our ongoing success as a donor or volunteer, please visit us at: www.MorrisonCenter.com

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