Holden Meier, Group Sales Manager of the Lied Center for the Performing Arts presented the program at the Seward Rotary Club meeting on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 at the Jones Bank auditorium.
Holden shared The Lied Center for Performing Arts mission which is To Educate, Inspire, and Entertain. Holden explained that while many theaters include education and inspiration in their mission statement, the Lied Center also sees its’ mission to entertain. Their mission drives the focus for the events hosted at the Lied Center with the goal to bring something for everyone every year. They desire everyone to feel welcomed. The Lied Center is Nebraska’s Home for the Arts.
Holden Meier, Group Sales Manager of the Lied Center for the Performing Arts presented the program at the Seward Rotary Club meeting on Wednesday, October 9, 2019 at the Jones Bank auditorium.
Holden shared The Lied Center for Performing Arts mission which is To Educate, Inspire, and Entertain. Holden explained that while many theaters include education and inspiration in their mission statement, the Lied Center also sees its’ mission to entertain. Their mission drives the focus for the events hosted at the Lied Center with the goal to bring something for everyone every year. They desire everyone to feel welcomed. The Lied Center is Nebraska’s Home for the Arts.
The Lied Center is supported through a variety of efforts. While they are associated with the University of Nebraska Lincoln and some funding comes through the University for utilities and the Executive Director salary, the majority of funds are generated through other sources. 50% of the budget is supported by Ticket Sales, they are also active in Fundraising, apply for Grants and receive rental fees to support their annual budget.
Holden expressed his gratitude to the Rotary Club and explained how the motto “Service Above Self” also applied to the Lied Center for Performing Arts. In addition to brining artists and performances to Lincoln, the Lied Center offers Master Classes contracting with visiting artists to offer free classes for students giving them the opportunity to work with these professionals. The goal is to provide access to the arts an arts education for everyone. In addition to brining Artist to Lincoln, the Lied Center has Arts Across Nebraska where they coordinate at least one show every year to travel to other locations in Nebraska. The Lied Center also allocates a potion of free tickets to UNL students as well as offering 50% discounted tickets to college students in partnership with Concordia University, Wesleyan University and Doane College. The Lied Center also provides the EN Thompson Forum brining major world leaders to offer public presentations.
The Lied Center for the Performing Arts began its journey in 1990 and will celebrate their 30 th Anniversary on March 17, 2020. A founding donor, Ernst F. Lied made the Lied Center reality. The Nebraska Legislature established the Lied Center for the Performing Arts as Nebraska’s Home for the Arts with the goal to bring some of the best Artist in the world to Nebraska. The Lied Center is ranked in the top 100 venues in the world as far as attendance at performances. In honor of the 30 th Anniversary Season they are hosting shows including the Blue Man Group, Boston Pops and White Christmas and bringing in the most popular musical of all time and the largest show in Lincoln’s history “The Phantom of the Opera.”
Holden closed his time with Rotary by answering questions regarding accommodating artists during their stay, renovations required to bring in specific performances and future plans for expansion at the Lied Center.