FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Marcia Hope Goodwin 407-246-3107

MAYOR DYER ANNOUNCES FORMATION OF 
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER TASK FORCE

ORLANDO, FL (May 5, 2003) – Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer Monday announced the formation of a Performing Arts Center Task Force, to be headed by Jim Pugh, owner and president of Epoch Properties, Inc.

The task force will take a top-to-bottom look at everything that has been done and everything proposed in developing a downtown performing arts center in Orlando and will make recommendations on how to make it a reality.

“Jim shares my vision and enthusiasm about the importance of having a performing arts center in our city,” said Mayor Dyer. “ He has the right mix of business sense, civic leadership and arts knowledge for this position.”

The Mayor has asked Pugh to assemble a team of citizens from various disciplines to review all options regarding the performing arts center. The task force will look at every area of development, including funding, location, timing and programmatic makeup. Kathy Ramsberger, the City’s director of arts and entertainment, will staff the task force and work with its members to develop recommendations within 90 to 120 days.
“Last year almost 2,000 people were employed in the arts, receiving $42 million in wages,” said Mayor Dyer. “Arts and entertainment is an economic engine for our city, and a performing arts center will fuel that engine.”

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