Industry veteran Mike Carr has joined the Broward Center for the Performing Arts as director for programming. He will be responsible for negotiating with and scheduling the artists who perform at the Broward Center. Immediately prior to joining the Broward Center, Carr served as the director of entertainment at Miami Arena.
"We are very pleased to have Mike join our team," said Mark Nerenhausen, president and CEO of the Broward Center. "I truly look forward to working with him as we continue to seek out and present emerging artists who speak to and reflect the diversity of our community. Taken along with what I feel sure will be a wonderful relationship with the local arts groups we present and his experience with presenting established stars, the Broward Center is well positioned to remain the area's premier venue."
Techno Pioneer to Create Annual Festival
The Associated Press – DETROIT — Techno pioneer Derrick May will lead a group chosen to produce this year's Detroit Electronic Music Festival.
May's group had been competing with Pop Culture Media, which has produced the festival since its inception in 2000. The Detroit organization had sought to renew its contract after it expired in May, despite questions about its finances.
May's team includes fellow pioneering techno DJs Kevin Saunderson and Carl Craig, who was the festival's original artistic director. Pop Culture Media fired Craig in the midst of the 2001 festival.
The contract with May's team will be for the 2003 festival only. It will be reviewed after the Memorial Day weekend event, the Detroit News reported Friday.
"We believe that this group has been the driving force behind techno music here and around the world," said Jamaine Dickens, a spokesman for Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. "It only makes sense."
The city will provide organizers with Hart Plaza, where the free festival will be held, and police and cleanup services. But it will not subsidize the event, which officials say has lost money annually.
The 2002 festival lost about $356,000, despite crowds estimated at more than 1 million. The city spent $1.1 million on production and operations but took in just $710,000 from concessions, corporate sponsorships and other sources.
Huntington Civic Arena Gets New Name
Huntington (VA) Civic Arena has a new name. In a 10-1 vote, the City Council approved the arena's naming rights agreement with Big Sandy Superstores, a furniture and appliance chain. The 5,780-capacity venue's new name is Big Sandy Superstores Arena.
Big Sandy will pay the arena the arena $1.4 million over 10 years with a five-year
option.
