Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Rufener
Hi Kate, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I had just finished directing “Shakespeare in Love’ at WVPAC when I received news of West Valley City’s plan to close the WVPAC, shuttering it forever.
I was on the phone with my long-time friend John Sweeney within minutes, strategizing about what we could do. I started a FB group and sought volunteers to put together a committee of experts and strategists who could develop a multi-pronged plan for contacting the councilmembers, bringing the story to the public, and reaching out to fellow business-owners in the city to develop partnerships. We met weekly to make those plans and create a series of fundraisers and community awareness activities. After 4 months, we established an agreement with the city and now, 8 months later, the city has turned over the building and program to a new organization: West Valley Arts.
I now serve as the new organization’s Board Chair, with many of the same volunteers on our new Board. We are eager and hopeful for the future.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The city closed the building without discussing it with the public, so we had to overcome the city’s decision. Our community did not know that the building was even in operation after the previous theater owners had shut it down back in 2017. We also had competing interests in that the arts were under attack from multiple sides. This was the same time period that Salt Lake had announced closing Abravanel Hall.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an Artist/Creative and also a Professional
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Though we needed to keep the building open and the program running, the real success is our community rallying with us to do so. Not many theater companies can boast the kind of incredible support we received from our community!!
Pricing:
- Adult Tickets: $35
- Youth Tickets (12 and under): $20
- Senior Tickets: $25
- Military Tickets: $25
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wvcarts.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wvcarts
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wvcarts
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WVCArts
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@wvcarts
