Letter: First, protect the existing arts pillars

The request by the Town of Hilton Head Island to use sales tax proceeds for an “arts campus” has generated much confusion and concern. That campus includes two proposed facilities: a concert hall for the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra and an outdoor stage for touring performances, such as rock concerts and celebrity artists. The existing Arts Center of Coastal Carolina is not included.

The outdoor stage for touring performances appears to be the main source of concern. I suggest this part of the proposal be withdrawn and the existing arts center substituted in its place.

Currently, the symphony and the arts center are two of the island’s leading cultural attractions. The symphony needs a larger facility and the arts center needs a source of funds for maintenance. If the town were to apply sales tax revenues to purchase the arts center, this facility would have an endowment fund to use for maintenance expenses. That endowment could reduce, if not eliminate, periodic town subsidies and thereby costs to taxpayers.

As both the symphony and the arts center have well-documented records of revenues and expenditures, the speculative aspects of the current proposal would be eliminated.

Loss or diminution of either the symphony or arts center would be a major negative development for the island. Why not protect what we have instead of speculating on a new, unproven activity?

This story was originally published June 1, 2016 at 3:25 PM with the headline "Letter: First, protect the existing arts pillars."