Arts Center Fills a Key Gap

The Orange County Performing Arts Center has contributed to a sense of cultural identity for the county, no small achievement. But last fall, when it celebrated its 10th anniversary, there was a missing component in an otherwise positive mosaic. It has taken longer than desirable for that missing piece--executive leadership--to be put in place. Now, after a long period of speculation and searching, Jerry E. Mandel, UC Irvine’s chief fund-raiser, has been named the center’s new president and chief operating officer.

Mandel has limited experience running major arts institutions, a sign that top-tier candidates with both programming and fund-raising credentials are rare and that those out there are often spoken for by major cultural centers.

It has been clear that the center needs to widen its financial base, and Mandel brings a proven track record as a major fund-raiser and knowledge of the territory. Ahead lie the challenges of building a second performance hall and broadening the center’s agenda beyond classical music, ballet, opera and musical theater. Center board Chairman Mark Johnson has said that the goal is to make the center a rival of Lincoln Center in New York City and Kennedy Center in Washington. To realize such an ambition will take money, skill and good luck.

Mandel got contributions to rise substantially at UCI and previously had raised money for Cal State Long Beach. His credentials lend themselves well to the expansion mission. Raising money for the arts nowadays is a daunting task, so his kind of expertise counts.

At the same time, it necessarily may fall to others to make up whatever shortfalls may result from the top person’s inexperience on the programming side. Improving the quality of what the center puts on is a laudable goal and one to summon the creative energies of all associated with it.

Mandel’s familiarity with the local scene and his insider’s knowledge as a board member should serve him and the center well. We wish him good fortune as he undertakes this important assignment.